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Tim Bontemps
SAN FRANCISCO–In a remarkable 15-minute media session on Wednesday, Golden State Warriors Coach Steve Kerr took responsibility for the controversy with him draymond green That led the forward to leave the bench midway through a timeout during Monday’s third quarter. win against orlando magic And said his goal is for Green to retire as a fighter.
“Monday night was not my best time, and that was a time when I needed to stay calm,” Kerr said after Golden State’s practice at Chase Center on Wednesday, about 24 hours before the Warriors’ showdown. dallas mavericks on Christmas Day. “I regret my actions in that retaliation. I apologized.” [Green]He apologized to me, We both apologized to the team,
“These things happen – especially when you’ve got two incredibly competitive guys like Dre and me. So, in the 12 years we’ve been together, it’s happened sometimes, and I’m not proud of it.”
Much of the discussion following Monday’s win revolved around Green’s decision go back to the locker room Ultimately returning to the bench and sitting there for the fourth quarter as Golden State moved back to .500 on Wednesday, Kerr was trying to move the franchise forward.
He spent much of his time at the podium reflecting on his partnership with Green, which dates back to when Kerr took over as coach in 2014, and he noted how similar the two men are.
Kerr said, “It has a long history here because we understand each other and I understand their strengths. There are four banners there and obviously a lot of people have played important roles in it, but I’ve said this before and I really believe it: I don’t think we have any without them.” “How much of an impact he has on winning. So his ability to transmit that passion, that emotion, that raw anger is a key component in making us successful. And what I said about the other night, I didn’t transmit my own raw emotion and anger, of which there are a lot.
“We’re more alike than anyone realizes. Yes, it’s not entirely unusual. 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 found a way, not only to bounce back, but to progress as a result.”
He repeatedly expressed his wish for Green to spend his entire career with the Warriors, his former teammate clay thompsonFor example, whoever played for the Mavericks on Thursday didn’t.
“We had a great conversation,” Kerr said. “I care about Draymond a lot, and our relationship is like family. And like family, you go through ups and downs.
“Honestly, my No. 1 goal is to finish his career as a warrior fighting metaphorically with us — not literally but fighting and competing together — until we’re both gone. And I believe that’s going to happen. Because I believe in Drummond and I believe in myself, and I believe in everything we’ve built over 12 years.”
This is not the first time that there has been a dispute between the two. The most prominent incident may have been in 2016 when Green and Kerr had a heated argument in the visiting locker room. oklahoma city thunder During Golden State’s record-setting 73–9 season.
However, what’s different is something else that Kerr acknowledged: This version of the Warriors, Kerr-Green-Stephen Curry The trio that has led the franchise to four titles is nearing its end.
Golden State finds itself 15-15 through more than a third of the season, and have already lost five before finishing sixth Houston Rockets To exit the Western Conference play-in picture. Meanwhile, Green is the only player this season to have played at least 250 minutes and committed more turnovers (75) and fouls (80) than field goals (72).
While Kerr said he believes this team can do what it did last season when closing with a 21–7 run after going 27–27 in the playoffs, he acknowledged that Golden State is “a fading dynasty.”
“Where we are as a team, as an organization, the most important thing to me is for people to recognize that there is beauty in struggle,” Kerr said. “There’s beauty in what we’re trying to achieve right now.
“We’re no longer the ’17 Warriors, you know, dominating the league. We’re a fading dynasty. We know that. Everybody knows that. So what’s on us is, ‘How do we carry ourselves night after night? How connected are we? And can we give ourselves another swing at the plate?’ We did this last year. I was really proud of the team last year.
“We gave ourselves a chance, and that’s the goal. 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 it’s part of life.”
It’s a life that has seen Kerr, Green and the Warriors endure a lot together over the past decade. This race has put the franchise ahead of everyone else boston celtics (18) and Los Angeles Lakers (17) in all-time NBA championships. Curry has established himself as one of the greatest players of all time, while Kerr – and of course Green – will one day join him in the Hall of Fame.
Kerr highlighted Green’s prodigious skill set and personality.
“The thing I love about Draymond is his loyalty,” Kerr said. “He’s a loyal guy. He’s loyal to the Warriors. He’s loyal to me. He’s loyal to Steph. He wants to be here his whole career. I couldn’t ask for anything more than that.
“I love Drummond. I love everything he’s meant for me, for the organization and for the Bay. And he’s a complicated guy. He’ll be the first one to admit that. He’s very complicated. But he’s fiercely loyal and passionate. And as long as I’m coaching him here, I’ll go to bat for him. And honestly, I’ll still go to bat for him 20 years from now when we’re not together because I feel so strongly about him.” And I’m like, I want this thing to end with us, whenever it happens.”
