An emotionally charged back-and-forth between All-Star Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant and Draymond Green came during a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, and lasted about thirty seconds before Durant disgruntledly stepped away.
The drama that ensued from the exchange, however, has spilled over into the locker room, to the joy of the rest of the league and NBA fans alike.
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Green served a one-game suspension for “conduct detrimental to the team”, and kept his silence until Thursday, ahead of the team’s prime matchup against the Houston Rockets. His words were carefully constructed, and he did not take any questions following his statement. “Kevin and I spoke. We’re moving forward,” Green said. “I think there’s no secret that I am an emotional player. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I play with that same emotion. Sometimes it gets the best of me and it doesn’t work to my favor.”
“I am going to live with that. Because it works in my favor to the good, as my résumé speaks, and this team’s résumé speaks, more so than it doesn’t. So I am never going to change who I am. I am going to approach the game the same way that I always do. And like I said, we will continue to move forward.”
Speculations of Durant’s potential departure from the team during his upcoming free agency in 2019 exploded. A video of Durant following the exchange appears to show the forward saying “This why I’m gone.” Green has an understanding of what’s at stake. Green mentioned that during his suspension, he had kept up with stories citing his own influence on Durant’s impending free agency.
“I have read a lot about how, ‘Is this the end of the run?’ or ‘Is it over?’ or ‘Did I ruin it?’ or ‘Did I force Kevin to leave?'” Green said about the argument. “You know, at the end of the day, as I’ve said before, whatever Kevin decides to do, whatever Klay [Thompson]decides to do, whatever who decides to do, we had great years together and I support everybody wholeheartedly, 100 percent. Because as a man, as a human being, you got the right to do what you want with your life. So I will never question that.”
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Green also downplayed anything in the realm of tension going forward. He and Durant walked into shootaround together ahead of Thursday’s game, after coach Steve Kerr said the team had a meeting in the locker room addressing the situation.
“I am sorry if that ruins everybody’s stories. I know everybody got a job to do,” said Green, dismissing the altercation and any fallout. “I apologize for ruining y’all’s stories if it did. But if this only makes Kevin, myself and the rest of my teammates stronger, that’s what it’s going to do. You think you saw something before? Good luck with us now. We’re not going to crumble off of an argument. We are going to move forward. So that’s all I have got to say. Anybody want to talk basketball, I am here. If not, it’s been real.”
The game between the Warriors and the Rockets tips off at 8:00 p.m. EST at the Toyota Center in Houston.
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