Getty
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 12: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors high fives head coach Steve Kerr during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in game six of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors are not expected to discipline Draymond Green following a heated confrontation with head coach Steve Kerr that culminated in Green leaving the bench during a timeout, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
Shelburne reported Tuesday on NBA Today that Green’s decision to remove himself from the situation — rather than escalate it — played a significant role in the organization’s response.
“I’ve been in those situations with Steve before, right? And they’ve gone so far to the left that it’s hard to come back from,” Shelburne said. “And [Green] has been in so many of these. He just said it was best for everybody that before things go too far south, I’m going to remove myself from a situation that’s not going to cool down.”
Shelburne added that Green spoke with Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. after the game and that the two “cleared the air,” leading the organization to believe no further discipline is necessary.
“Draymond wanted to talk to the media afterwards,” Shelburne said, “and so I don’t expect there to be any further discipline coming in this situation.”
Timeout Confrontation Sparks Brief Walkout
The confrontation occurred during a third-quarter timeout in Golden State’s win over the Orlando Magic, shortly after Green committed a turnover and appeared to argue with an official.
With the Warriors trailing 71–66, Kerr called a timeout in an effort to reset what he later described as a lapse in focus. Green, visibly animated, headed toward the bench and a shouting match with Kerr ensued. He then walked back to the locker room instead of joining the huddle.
“Yeah, we got into it, obviously,” Kerr said after the game. “I took the timeout because I thought we lost our focus a little bit. We had it out briefly, and he made the decision to go back to the locker room to cool off. That’s all I’m going to say about it.”
Kerr declined to elaborate further, emphasizing that the discussion between coach and player would remain private.
Warriors Respond With Defensive Surge
Green later returned to the bench, but Kerr opted not to reinsert him into the game. Instead, Golden State responded with its most complete stretch of basketball of the night.
The Warriors tightened defensively and steadily pulled away, outscoring Orlando by 23 points over the final 20 minutes to secure the win.
The response reinforced Kerr’s assertion that the timeout — and the confrontation — were about team focus rather than singling out an individual.
Green: “It Was Best to Remove Myself”
Green echoed that sentiment afterward, framing his decision as a conscious attempt to prevent escalation.
“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.”
Both Kerr and Green were adamant that the incident would not carry over.
“We need Draymond,” Kerr said. “He’s a champion, and we’ve been together for a long time. All we can do as a group is keep pushing and keep getting better.”
Green also emphasized perspective.
“We’ve been at this now for a long time,” he said. “Sometimes you’re with people for a long time and there’s a level of comfort and [expletive] happens. We move forward.”
Turnovers and Discipline Under the Microscope
The incident comes as Green’s performance is under increased scrutiny amid the Warriors’ uneven play following a 4–1 start.
The four-time All-Star currently has more turnovers (75) and personal fouls (80) than field goals made (72) this season — a statistical snapshot that underscores Golden State’s broader issues with execution and discipline.
Shelburne noted that Kerr’s reaction was consistent with a pattern he has referenced repeatedly in postgame interviews.
“Whenever they lose a game, Steve Kerr looks into the camera and says, ‘It’s not offense, it’s not defense, it’s turnovers,’” Shelburne said. “That was his first turnover of the game. I think Steve was making a point.”
She added that Kerr’s message was not solely directed at Green.
“You can yell at Draymond — he’s probably going to yell back — but you can’t yell at everybody else,” Shelburne said. “I think Steve was trying to nip it in the bud. They were losing focus, and he didn’t want it to get out of control again.”
Warriors Move Forward Without Discipline
The Warriors appear intent on treating the incident as an internal reset rather than a disciplinary matter — a reflection of Green’s long-standing role within the organization and the team’s belief that accountability was addressed in the moment.
As Golden State continues to search for consistency, the episode served as a reminder of both Green’s volatility and his importance — and of the delicate balance the Warriors must strike to keep their championship core aligned.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
More Heavy on Warriors
Loading more stories