Green an unlikely voice of reason
Temperamental forward displays cooler head in Durant’s tiff with referee
OAKLAND >> The tensions ran high as the Warriors’ star player became visibly annoyed over a silent whistle after drawing contact.
The disagreements continued as the Warriors’ star jawed at the officials with both pointed criticisms and sharp language. And then soon, enough the officials had enough and issued the Warriors’ star his second technical and subsequent ejection.
Another incident of Draymond Green losing his cool? Nope. This episode involved Warriors forward Kevin Durant, who received his fourth ejection and 10th technical of the season late in the Warriors’ win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday. During that time, Green actually went toward Durant and moved him away from an official that continued to hear an earful.
“The ultimate irony,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said with a grin.
“Draymond the voice of reason with the officials is great.”
Even as Durant expressed frustration with the officiating that prompted him to apologize following Wednesday’s practice, the Warriors’ forward found humor in the idea that Green tried to calm him down. Is that not what everyone on the Warriors has tried to do with Green?
“New and improved baby,” Green said. “Don’t find it ironic.”
Don’t look now. But the Warriors (38-10) enter Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves (31-18) with Green avoiding any technical fouls for the past eight games.
After Green collected his 11th technical foul in the Warriors’ win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 6, Green complained to The Athletic about the NBA needing to replace its officials, an incident that sparked the NBA to fine him $25,000. With Green paying a total of $85,000 in league-imposed fines this season stemming from 11 technicals, two ejections and a scuffle with Washington guard Bradley Beal, Green has kept his money in his wallet.
Kerr observed that Green has found a “really nice niche” in staying on the officials’ good side to ensure he does not creep toward collecting 16 technical fouls, which would result in a one-game suspension without pay. In related news, Green has averaged 15.8 points on 50.8 percent shooting, 8.2 rebounds and 7.2 assists in the past five games he has played.
“Draymond is in a really good place right now on and off the court. He looks very comfortable and is happy,” Kerr said. “I think being a father probably has changed him in some
regards. But he’s very content right now. It’s great to see. Obviously we want our players to be content and happy on and off the floor. They often go hand in hand. If your life is good at home, you tend to play better. If you play better, your life is better at home too. He seems like he’s a in really good place. I’m happy for him.”
So is Durant, who said he might take some notes on how to find an inner peace with the men in stripes.
“He’s locked in, I guess. He’s definitely staying out of trouble, I feel,” Durant said of Green. “He’s still playing with his fiery and feisty self. But he’s staying out of the extra stuff that I got into last night. He’s staying out of it and playing his game. He’s playing beautiful out there.” DURANT APOLOGIZES FOR ‘BEING A JERK’ >> One day after Durant’s diatribe against referee James Williams in which he said the official was “in his feelings” and targeted him in the second half of the a win over New York, the Warriors’ superstar apologized for his comments.
“I was being an (expletive) last night,” Durant said. “I was being a jerk. That one foul at the end
wasn’t a foul. I shouldn’t have slammed the ball down like I did. I can go back and say I was being a jerk last night, and I deserve whatever the league is going to throw at me. I wish I had handled that better, obviously, But it was kind of a heated moment for me. I could be better. It was a great learning experience for me.”
Durant was assessed his first technical foul with 3 minutes and 24 seconds left in the third quarter after slamming the ball off the ground to himself.
He was ejected from the game with 2 minutes and 50 seconds left after complaining to Williams because he thought he was fouled on a fast-break layup.
Durant said his frustration with Williams stemmed from the referee calling carrying on a crossover move that he made in the first half.
“I worked on that move and I was like, man, that’s my move,” Durant said. “I felt like I made a good move. And they called a carry. That’s one of those calls you don’t get all of the time and it just irritated me, I guess. But I can’t react like that. I wish I could apologize to James because
that’s definitely out of my character.”
When Durant took the podium following the Warriors’ win, he said that Williams had “an attitude” following their crossover disagreement.
After Durant calmed down and watched film later that night, he realized that he was in the wrong.
“I wasn’t getting picked on last night,” Durant said. “I was being a diva last night. I’ve got to just own up to it. I watched it when I got home. I was like, man, I was wondering why he was coming at me so hard. Then I watched the plays and I was like, yeah, I looked like a jerk out there. It was bad.”
Durant added, “I’ll be better next time.”
INJURY UPDATE >> Forward Patrick McCaw has been listed as questionable with a mid-back strain, while guard Klay Thompson is probable with a left glute contusion, the team announced.
Rookie forward Jordan Bell continues to sit out with inflammation in his left ankle. Bell will be reevaluated Feb. 2.