An especially introspective Steve Kerr told reporters Wednesday that there’s beauty in the struggle as he reflected on the state of his Golden State Warriors and the blowup 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 discussion during a timeout Monday night. After an animated exchange, Green decided to remove himself and left for the Chase Center locker rooms.
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Although he eventually returned to the bench, he didn’t check back into the game.
Kerr said he and his do-it-all forward had a “great chat” Wednesday. The longtime Warriors head coach said he and Green apologized to each other as well as to the team.
Kerr explained that it was not his finest hour, nor was it a good look for his group.
“That was a time I needed to be calm in the huddle, and so I regret my actions in that exchange,” Kerr said Wednesday.
“These things, they happen, especially when you get two incredibly competitive people like Dray and me. 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 we have is like family. And like 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’s going to happen because I believe in Draymond, and I believe in myself and I believe in everything we’ve built for 12 years.”
The Warriors famously selected Green out of Michigan State with the 35th overall pick in the second round of the 2012 draft. Kerr has coached him from the 2014-15 season on. Since, Green has emerged as a four-time All-Star, one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and nine-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. Together, Kerr and Green have won four NBA championships.
While Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, and then Kevin Durant, consistently shot the lights out, Green has left his own mark on the organization: with defensive tenacity, heady court vision and physical rebounding, plus timely scoring.
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“We have four banners out there, and obviously a lot of people have played important roles in that, but I’ve said this before, and I truly believe it. I don’t think we have any without Draymond,” Kerr said. “That’s how much he impacts winning.
“So his ability to channel that passion, that emotion, that raw rage that he has is a key component to what makes us successful. And what I said about the other night, I didn’t channel my own raw emotion and rage, of which there is plenty. We are far more alike than anyone would ever realize.”
Kerr cited a long history of turning negative moments into positive momentum during his relationship with Green, who Kerr described as “very complex.” While Green has racked up technical fouls and served his fair share of suspensions for outbursts during a 14-season NBA career, he’s also known for his basketball acumen and his contemplative commentary.
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“We’ve always, always found a way to not only bounce back, but to make strides as a result,” Kerr said, via Warriors reporter Kenzo Fukuda.
‘We are a fading dynasty. … So what is up to us?’
With the win over the Magic, the Warriors improved to 15-15. They’ve won back-to-back games for the fifth time this season. But they’ve still yet to string together more than three victories in a row.
This version of Golden State is spearheaded by Curry, Green and Jimmy Butler III. They’re all at least 35 years old. Butler is a Warriors transplant who helped spark a second-half run last season, which 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 for 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 The San Francisco Standard’s Danny Emerman.
“We are no longer the ’17 Warriors, dominating the league. We are a fading dynasty. We know that. Everyone knows that. So what is up to us? How do we carry ourselves night to night? How connected are we? And can we give ourselves another swing at the plate? We did that last year. I was really proud of the team last year. Despite the loss to Minnesota, injury to Steph. Who knows how long we would’ve gone? But we gave ourselves a chance. That’s the goal here.
“We know where we are. We’ve got to know who we are, we’ve got to know what’s possible, and we’ve got to take pride in the struggle, because this is part of life.”
Kerr said he believes sorting out the tiff with Green has been a major step in this Warriors team working through its issues.
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He sees an opportunity for Golden State to make another run like last year’s.
As for Green, Kerr wants him to finish his career in a Warriors uniform.
“He’s undyingly loyal and passionate, and I will go to bat for him as long as I’m coaching him here,” Kerr said, per Emerman. “Honestly, I’d go to bat for him 20 years from now when we haven’t been together. That’s how strongly I feel about him. And that’s how I want this thing to end with us, whenever that is.”