Green-Durant squabble gets perspective

Former Warriors star Kevin Durant said the reason behind the nowinfamous exchange with Draymond Green during an overtime loss to the

L.A. Clippers two years ago was because Durant “wanted the moment” of hitting the game-winning shot.

On a recent episode of Durant’s “The ETCs” podcast, the two offered their perspectives on what led to the heated argument — which occurred on Nov. 12, 2018, during an overtime loss to the Clippers at Staples Center and resulted in Green’s one-game suspension.

In the final seconds of that game, Green got a rebound, dribbled down the court and lost control of the ball and Golden State never got a shot to break the tie before the end of regulation. When Green brought the ball up the floor, Durant clapped to demand the ball. As the two went to the sideline, they got into a verbal altercation.

Green said on the podcast this week that he meant to get Durant the ball, but Durant did not run the floor and so the possession broke down.

“I got the rebound and I took off up the court,” Green said. “K is clapping for the ball and I’m taking off. I’m driving up the court. In my mind, K is about to come in for the trail, and I’m about to pitch it back. He is about to walk into the 3, we’re going home, we got a game tomorrow. This is how I’m envisioning this whole play happening. As I turn to go across the court for the pitch back, K has completely stopped coming. So I dribble the ball off my foot looking for him. It went all wrong.”

However, Durant saw no reason for Green to touch the ball in the first place. He believed he could have brought it up himself and made the game-winner.

“This is how I played it out: We got the stop, I’m grabbing the rebound, as soon as I cross halfcourt

I’m shooting it,” Durant said. “That was the disconnect.

“That was it. I wanted the moment, Draymond saw it in a different way. That was the clash.”

As for the exchange on the sideline, Green said Durant yelled, “Give me the [expletive] ball.” To which he responded: “I was [expletive] passing you the ball if you would have [expletive] ran.”

At that point, teammates and coaches intervened and separated them. Video of the exchange went viral and became a talking point for the rest of the season. Many point to that moment as the genesis of Durant’s decision to depart and sign with the Brooklyn Nets the following summer.

“The build-up of everything, the media coverage around it, the suspension, it only made it worse,” Green said. “Took on a complete life of its own.”

Added Durant: “I was so irritated because I knew the vultures were about to eat this up. I knew they were going to use it to try to divide and separate me from the group. That was the irritating part because I knew it was going to happen.”