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Draymond Green spent the final 20 minutes of the Golden State Warriors’ 120–97 win over the Orlando Magic off the floor after a heated exchange with head coach Steve Kerr sent him to the locker room midway through the third quarter, per CBS Sports. The moment quickly became the main storyline of the night, even as Golden State walked away with what Kerr later called one of the team’s better wins this season.
The confrontation happened early in the third quarter with the Warriors trailing 71–66. After Green committed a turnover, Kerr called a timeout. The discussion between the two escalated during that stoppage, prompting Green to excuse himself from the bench and head to the locker room.
“We had it out a little bit,” Kerr said afterward, via ESPN. “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.”
Green eventually returned to the bench before the fourth quarter began, but he did not reenter the game.
“Tempers spilled over, and I thought it was best that I get out of there,” Green said. “I don’t think it was a situation where it was going to get better. It was best to remove myself.”
Despite the incident, Kerr praised Green’s play before the early exit. In fewer than 18 minutes, Green recorded nine points, seven rebounds, and two assists. The Warriors finished the night strong behind Stephen Curry’s 26 points and efficient scoring from Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody, who combined for 41 points on 75 percent shooting.
“The questions are a little bit more negative than they should be,” Curry said. “I get why you’re asking them, but downstairs right now, the DJ has a good playlist going, the guys are getting their work in and we’re having a good time because we’re winning.”
Why Draymond’s Role May Be Wearing on Him
Based on postgame comments from Kerr, Curry, and Green, the team framed the incident as something already in the past as Golden State prepared for its Christmas Day matchup with the Dallas Mavericks.
“We’ve been at this now for a long time,” Green said. “Sometimes you’re with people for a long time and there’s a level of comfort and stuff happens. We move forward.”
However, ESPN’s Marc Spears added important context while discussing the situation, pointing to a deeper source of frustration for the Warriors veteran.
“I’m hearing that Draymond’s a little frustrated with having to guard centers and having the guys that are 40 to 50 pounds heavier than him on a nightly basis,” Spears said.
That insight helps explain why emotions may have boiled over. Green has long taken on physically demanding defensive assignments, often matching up with much bigger players. Over time, that nightly workload can take a toll, especially as the season grinds on and the physical demands add up.
No Discipline Expected
Despite the tense moment, the Warriors do not expect any disciplinary action, per Bleacher Reports. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that Green spoke with general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. after the game and addressed the situation directly.
“From what I understand, he also spoke to general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. there after the game, they cleared the air, Draymond wanted to talk to the media afterward,” Shelburne said on NBA Today. “So I don’t expect there to be any further discipline coming in this situation.”
Kerr confirmed that once Green left the bench, the decision was final for the night.
“He wasn’t going back in. No,” Kerr said, via ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “He left. He went back to the locker room. We moved forward, and the guys played great.”
While Kerr described the situation as unfortunate, he also emphasized how important Green remains to the team moving forward. With the Warriors sitting at 15–15, the focus now shifts back to keeping momentum as the season continues, with both sides making it clear they plan to move ahead together.
Burtland Dixon Burtland Dixon is a sports journalist covering the NBA and athlete culture for Heavy.com. A former Division II athlete turned journalist, he offers a unique blend of locker room perspective and storytelling expertise. He has more than eight years of experience in digital media and previously served as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with additional bylines at Idolator, Trend Chaser, and Buzznet. Burtland is based between California and New York. Instagram: @showmi_more More about Burtland Dixon
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