Steve Kerr, Draymond Green apologized for midgame outburst, Warriors coach says; Kerr appreciates the beauty in the struggle of the “fading dynasty”
A particularly introspective Steve Kerr told reporters Wednesday that there is beauty in the fight as he reflected on the state of his Golden State Warriors and the clash he had with Draymond Green during the third quarter of a 120-97 win over the Orlando Magic two days earlier.
Kerr and Green were seen in a heated argument during a timeout Monday night. After a heated exchange, Green decided to walk away and left for the Chase Center locker room.
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Although he eventually returned to the bench, he did not return to the game.
Kerr said he and his all-round forward had a “great chat” on Wednesday. The longtime Warriors coach said he and Green apologized to each other and to the team.
Kerr explained that it wasn’t his finest hour, nor was it a good idea for his group.
“That was a time when I needed to be calm in the meeting, and so I regret my actions in that exchange,” Kerr said Wednesday.
“These things happen, especially when you have two incredibly competitive people like me and Dray. So over the 12 years we’ve been together, this has happened occasionally, and I’m not proud of it.”
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Kerr added, “I care so much about Draymond, and the relationship that we have is like a family. And like a family, you go through ups and downs. And my No. 1 goal honestly is for him to finish his career as a Warrior with us fighting – metaphorically, not literally – and competing together until we’re both gone. And I believe that will happen because I believe in Draymond, and I believe in myself and I believe in everything that we’ve built over 12 years.”
The Warriors selected Green out of Michigan State with the 35th overall pick in the second round of the 2012 draft. Kerr coached him from the 2014-15 season onward. Since then, Green has emerged as a four-time All-Star, a one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and a nine-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team. Together, Kerr and Green won four NBA championships.
While Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, and then Kevin Durant, consistently turned the lights off, Green made his mark on the organization: with defensive tenacity, intoxicating court vision and physical rebounding, as well as timely scoring.
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“We have four flags out there, and obviously a lot of people had a big role in that, but I’ve said it before and I really believe it. I don’t think we’ll have any without Draymond. That’s his impact on winning.
“So his ability to channel that passion, that emotion, that raw anger that he has is a key component to what makes us successful. And what I said the other night, I haven’t channeled my raw emotion and anger, of which there’s plenty. We’re much more similar than anyone could ever imagine.”
Kerr cited a long history of turning negative moments into positive momentum during his relationship with Green, which Kerr described as “very complex.” While Green has collected technical fouls and served his fair share of suspensions for outbursts during a 14-season NBA career, he is also known for his basketball acumen and contemplative commentary.
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“We always, always found a way to not only bounce back, but to make strides,” Kerr said, via Warriors reporter Kenzo Fukuda.
«We are a dynasty in decline. … So what’s next for us?’
With the win over the Magic, the Warriors improved to 15-15. They won consecutive games for the fifth time this season. But they have yet to string together more than three consecutive victories.
This version of Golden State is led by Curry, Green and Jimmy Butler III. They are all at least 35 years old. Butler is a Warriors transplant who helped spark a second-half run last season that ended in the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves after Curry suffered a hamstring strain in the first game of the series.
“Where we are as a team, as an organization, the most important thing to me is for guys to recognize that there’s beauty in the struggle. There’s beauty in what we’re trying to accomplish right now,” Kerr said Wednesday, via Danny Emerman of the San Francisco Standard.
“We’re no longer the ’17 Warriors, dominating the league. We’re a dynasty in decline. We know it. Everyone knows it. So what’s next for us? How do we perform night after night? How connected are we? And can we give ourselves another shot at the plate? We did that last year. I was really proud of the team last year. Despite the loss to Minnesota, Steph’s injury. Who knows how long we would have stayed? But we gave ourselves a chance. That’s the goal here.
“We know where we are. We have to know who we are, we have to know what’s possible, and we have to be proud of the struggle, because that’s part of life.”
Kerr said he believes resolving the dispute with Green was an important step in the Warriors team working through its issues.
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He sees an opportunity for Golden State to make another run like last year.
As for Green, Kerr wants him to finish his career in a Warriors uniform.
“He is eternally loyal and passionate, and I will go to bat for him as long as I coach him here,” Kerr said, according to Emerman. “Honestly, I would go and fight for him in 20 years, when we’re not together. That’s how strongly I feel about him. And that’s how I want this thing to end between us, whenever that happens.”