Warriors ban Green after rift with KD

There’s trouble in Golden State paradise, and Kevin Durant is at the center of it.

The Warriors star was not pleased with teammate Draymond Green’s late-game decision making during an overtime loss to the Clippers Monday night, and the two players could be seen jawing at each other on the sidelines. The fiery exchange carried over into the locker room, according to a report by ESPN, where Green was bombarded with questions as to why he kept the ball on the final play of regulation, rather than passing it off to Durant, who was calling for it.

Witnesses told ESPN it was the “most intense” exchange the Warriors have ever had behind closed doors, and Green was handed a one-game suspension by the team for his part in the controversy.

This is made all the more interesting considering Durant hits free agency in 2019. A video of Durant on the sidelines during the fracas that has circulated on Twitter appears to show him saying: “See, this is why I’m out.”

If Durant is not happy with his touches in clutch situations for the Warriors, he might want to go somewhere this offseason where he’d be the focal point of the offense. Enter the Knicks. The young David-Fizdale led team is putting a lot of eggs in the free agency basket, and Durant is at the top of the list. In a Madison Square Garden faceoff with Golden State in October, the Knicks tried to strut their stuff in front of Durant, hanging with the Warriors for three quarters. But the dynamic scorer went off in the fourth to help the Warriors pull away, showing the Knicks why he’s such a tantalizing, franchise-altering option.

A banner outside the Garden imploring Durant to consider the Knicks did not make much of an impression on him, but Durant did praise the atmosphere at MSG.

“It’s like a playground with walls. You walk outside and you’re right on the street. It feels like you’re playing at Rucker Park, just indoors,” said Durant.