Draymond Green left Monday night’s win over the Orlando Magic early after an argument with head coach Steve Kerr.
Green and Kerr had a heated discussion during a timeout in the third quarter of the Warriors’ 120-97 win over the Magic, although it’s unclear what the argument was about. The bench, though, was lively. At one point, Moses Moody appeared to try to intervene and calm Green down, but he later gave up and sat down again.
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Eventually, Green walked off the court and back to the locker room at Chase Center.
Kerr said after the game that this was actually Green’s decision. He was not sent there, although Cole declined to say what their row was about.
“Obviously, we were in a tight spot … and we worked it out a little bit, and then he decided to go back to the locker room and calm down,” Kerr said, via ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “That’s all I have to say, everything is personal. I have nothing to add.”
Green did return to the Warriors bench before the game ended, but he did not play again. Cole said he wouldn’t do that.
“Well, he left,” Cole said flatly. “He’s back in the locker room.”
Green had nine points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes Monday night. This season he averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game, which ranked him 14th in the league.
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Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 26 points, helping the team to a 15-15 record on the season. Jimmy Butler scored 21 points and Moses Moody scored 20 points. Paolo Banchero scored a Magic team-high 21 points and 12 rebounds in this loss, and Desmond Bane also contributed 20 points. They made 7 of 27 three-pointers as a team and have a record of 16 wins and 13 losses this season.
Green seems to have a good relationship with Kerr, although he’s had some heated arguments throughout his career. Green was drafted by the Warriors in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft and has spent his entire career with the team. Kerr took over as head coach before the 2014-15 season, and Green was a key figure in Golden State’s four championships.
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Clearly, Green and Kerr don’t see eye to eye right now. While Green has yet to comment on the incident, Kerr is at least publicly trying to move forward.
“We need Draymond. He’s a champion,” Kerr said. “We’ve been together a long time…what happened is unfortunate, but it happens.”
