Draymond Green finally opened up about his heated confrontation with Fred VanVleet during the playoffs.
The incident occurred when the Golden State Warriors faced the Houston Rockets in a tense postseason series.
Green and VanVleet were seen getting in each other’s faces before teammates quickly separated them.
Initially, Green downplayed the incident, calling it ‘just talking‘ while praising VanVleet’s performance throughout the series.
Photo by David Berding/Getty ImagesGreen admits to crossing the line with aggressive words
In a recent podcast appearance, Draymond Green revealed he said some ‘choice words‘ that crossed the line during their heated exchange.
The Warriors veteran acknowledged his mistake and took responsibility for escalating the situation.
“I saw Fred VanVleet last night and we got a relationship, got a lot of respect for him,” Green said.
“Me and Fred got into it in game three, I said some choice words that soon after I said them, I knew right away that series went seven. I never said the words again in the rest of the series.”
Green’s admission shows how his comments may have motivated VanVleet and the Rockets to extend the series, something he immediately regretted after the words left his mouth.
Warriors star apologizes for heated moment
Despite their on-court rivalry, Green and VanVleet maintain a strong relationship off the court. The Golden State forward made sure to apologize directly to VanVleet for his inappropriate comments during their confrontation.
“I said ‘I’m sorry, I was wrong.’ And I knew it right away, but when we on the court I’m into it, I’m mixing it up with your teammate,” Green explained. “And he did what he had to do.”
This wasn’t the first playoff meeting between the two competitors. Their most notable encounter came during the 2019 NBA Finals when VanVleet’s Toronto Raptors defeated Green’s Warriors to end Golden State’s dynasty hopes.
VanVleet played a crucial role in stopping the Warriors from winning three consecutive championships, creating lasting memories between the franchises.
Future matchups could intensify with VanVleet extension
The rivalry between Green and VanVleet may continue heating up next season. Reports indicate VanVleet plans to extend his contract with the Houston Rockets on a two-year, $50 million deal.
The Rockets have also acquired former Warriors star Kevin Durant, adding another layer of intrigue to future Warriors-Rockets matchups.
The combination of VanVleet’s extension and Durant’s presence could make their next playoff meeting even more intense than their previous encounters.