Tim Hardaway Sr. Questions Steph Curry’s Silence During Draymond-Kerr Timeout Clash
It was a tense moment during Tuesday night’s game between the Warriors and the Magic - not because of the scoreboard, but because of what unfolded on the Golden State bench. Draymond Green and head coach Steve Kerr got into a heated exchange during a timeout, and while emotions flared, one notable figure stayed seated: Steph Curry.
That didn’t sit right with Warriors legend Tim Hardaway Sr., who voiced his concerns on SiriusXM NBA Radio the following day. For Hardaway, Curry’s silence in the moment wasn’t just surprising - it was a missed opportunity for leadership.
“Steph should’ve been the one standing up in that huddle, not somebody else,” Hardaway said. “Steph should have been like, ‘Yo, Dray, man.
That’s enough, man. Come on, man.
Hey, let’s get back into it, man. Let it go.
Leave it alone.’”
Hardaway acknowledged that Curry isn’t the most vocal guy in the room - that’s never really been his style. But in a moment where the team needed a calming presence and a voice of authority, Hardaway felt the face of the franchise should’ve been the one to step in.
Instead, it was Moses Moody - the 21-year-old wing still carving out his place in the rotation - who stepped up and tried to defuse the situation. Meanwhile, Curry remained on the bench, catching his breath and staying out of the fray.
Draymond eventually walked off to the locker room to cool down, and Kerr managed to rally the troops. The Warriors responded with a strong fourth quarter to pull off a win over the Magic. After the final buzzer, both Green and Kerr downplayed the incident, brushing it off as one of those in-the-moment flare-ups that happen in competitive environments.
As for Curry, he kept things light when asked about the exchange postgame.
“They were just having a good conversation,” Curry said with a smile. “It’s kind of for them to talk about, not me… I haven’t had a chance to talk to [Draymond]… I’m pretty sure we know how to be professional.”
That’s a classic Curry response - calm, composed, and focused on the bigger picture. But it also highlights the unique dynamic within this Warriors core.
Curry leads by example, not by volume. He’s the engine of the team, but he’s not the guy who usually steps into the middle of a confrontation.
That role has often fallen to Green, who brings the fire, or Kerr, who brings the balance.
Still, with the Warriors navigating a turbulent season and Green’s volatility continuing to be a storyline, there’s a growing sense that Curry’s leadership might need to evolve. Not in terms of production - he’s still playing at an elite level - but in terms of presence during moments of internal friction.
Golden State doesn’t have much time to dwell on this one. They’re right back in action on Christmas Day, hosting a Dallas Mavericks squad led by rookie phenom Cooper Flagg. The spotlight will be bright, the stakes high, and the Warriors - as always - will be under the microscope.
Whether or not Curry chooses to take a more vocal role moving forward remains to be seen. But if Tuesday was any indication, the calls for him to step up in those off-court moments might only get louder.