UPDATE: A dramatic incident unfolded during the Golden State Warriors’ decisive 120-97 victory over the Orlando Magic on December 4, 2023, as forward Draymond Green left the bench after a heated exchange with head coach Steve Kerr.
The confrontation occurred early in the third quarter, with the Warriors trailing 71-66. Following a turnover, Green was engaged with an official when Kerr called a timeout, citing a lack of focus among his players. This led to a significant argument, prompting Green to exit to the locker room, missing the final 20 minutes of the game.
“We had it out a little bit,” Kerr commented after the game. “He made his decision to go back to the locker room to cool off. That’s all I’m going to say about it. Everything is private.”
Efforts were made by teammates, including Moses Moody and assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse, to de-escalate the situation. However, after exchanging final words with Kerr, Green walked down the tunnel, leaving the game behind.
Reflecting on his decision, Green stated, “Tempers spilled over, and I thought it was best that I get out of there. I don’t think it was a situation where it was going to get better.” He spent over eight minutes in the locker room before returning to the bench, though he remained in his warmups and did not re-enter the game.
Kerr confirmed he had no plans to bring Green back into play, emphasizing, “No, he left. We moved forward, and the guys played great.” This incident marks the second consecutive game that Green has exited early; he was ejected just eight minutes into a match against the Phoenix Suns prior to this.
“We need Draymond,” Kerr added. “He’s a champion. It’s unfortunate what happened, but it happened.” Despite the tension, the Warriors rallied after Green’s departure, with Stephen Curry leading the charge, scoring 26 points and shooting flawlessly during the third quarter.
Following the game, Curry downplayed the implications of the argument, stating, “The questions are a little bit more negative than they should be…we’re having a good time because we’re winning.”
Green’s recent performance has garnered scrutiny, particularly after committing 13 turnovers in the Warriors’ last two games. However, he defended his play, arguing he only had one turnover in this match and was effectively managing the offense.
As the Warriors improve their record to 15-15 with this win, the focus now shifts to how Green and Kerr will navigate their relationship moving forward. An hour after the game, Green had not yet spoken with Kerr about the incident but took the initiative to address reporters, aiming to mitigate the situation.
Both Kerr and Green have historically had passionate exchanges over their long tenure together, with Green stating, “We’ve been at this now for a long time. Sometimes you’re with people for a long time, and there’s a level of comfort and things happen. We move forward.”
The Warriors will need to quickly regroup as they prepare for their next matchup, but the fallout from this altercation is sure to linger in discussions among fans and analysts alike.
