OKLAHOMA CITY – The Warriors are accustomed to Draymond Green’s firebrand personality, but the power forward’s temperature turned hotter that usual in the locker room at halftime Saturday night.
Green unleashed “a profanity-laced tirade,” according to ABC/ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters, who conveyed it on air during the Warriors’ 121-118 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
And when asked about it afterward, the Warriors issued no denials.
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“What goes on in here stays in here,” Green said.
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“Things get emotional occasionally and we were all angry at the way we played in the first half,” coach Steve Kerr said. “Things happened, and there’s nothing to it.”
Yet as Kerr conceded that the level of emotion on this particular occasion was “very unusual,” he declined to elaborate.
Golden State Warriors
“That’s all I’m going to say about it because it’s our private business,” Kerr said. “Since everybody heard the yelling, you guys can write whatever you want. But I’m not going to comment any more on that.”
Though there was speculation Green was displeased with his role in the offense, or perhaps the way his role has been shaped by Kerr, the player denied that.
“I clearly have never been a guy who cares about shots,” said Green, who was 0-for-8 from the field Saturday and is 9-of-32 over the last four games. “I pass up shots, open shots.
“But we know what goes on between our team,” he added. “We know what sparks this team. We know what this team does. But what goes on in this locker room stays in this locker room.”
Asked specifically if Kerr was urging more ball movement from Green, the Michigan State product replied thusly: “Steve wants everybody to move the ball a little more.”
Kerr insisted that Green’s apparent blowup would not hurt the chemistry that has been such a crucial element in the team’s success.
“Part of what makes him special is his emotion and his passion,” Kerr said. “Nothing major happened, obviously, we came out and played great in the second half.”
The Warriors outscored OKC 75-61 after halftime.