Warriors’ coach Steve Kerr reflects on heated in-game argument with Draymond Green
After a heated argument between Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and forward Draymond Green during the third quarter of Monday’s game against the Orlando Magic, Green leaves the bench and heads to the locker room. On Wednesday, Kerr admitted the situation wasn’t her “best moment.”
After the match, Kerr admitted that he and Green “had a little argument.” But he said the situation was private and he would not speak further on the subject, although he changed his tune on Wednesday.
“Monday night wasn’t my best moment, and it was a time where I needed to be calm in the huddle,” Kerr said after Wednesday’s Warriors practice. “I regret my actions during this exchange. I have apologized to [Green]he apologized to me. We both apologized to the team.
“These things, they happen, especially when there are two incredibly competitive people like Dray and I. So in the 12 years we’ve been together, it’s happened from time to time, and I’m not proud of it.”
Green returned to the bench before the start of the fourth quarter, but did not return to the game, a game that Golden State led 89-83 entering the final quarter en route to a 120-97 victory.
As Kerr mentioned, he and Green have been together for 12 seasons, and even though “tempers boiled over,” according to Green on Monday night, Kerr didn’t hesitate to support the veteran after the situation.
“There’s a long history here because we understand each other and I understand the power of it,” Kerr said. “There are four banners, and obviously a lot of people played a big part in that, but I’ve said it before, and I truly believe it: I don’t think we have any without him. That’s how much of an impact he has on winning. So his ability to channel that passion, that emotion, that raw rage that he has is a key part of what makes us successful. And what I said about the other night, I didn’t channel my own raw emotion and my own rage, of which there are many.
“We’re more alike than anyone could imagine. So yeah, it’s not totally uncommon. I would say it hasn’t happened in a few years, this kind of division and explosion, but in our 12 years together, it’s not the first time. And we’ve always, always found a way to not only bounce back, but make progress as a result.”
The Warriors (15-15) have won two straight games to get back to .500 and will host this year’s top draft pick, Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks (12-19) on Christmas at 5 p.m. ET.
