The Golden State Warriors picked up a much-needed win Monday night, but the story wasn’t just about the scoreboard. Midway through the third quarter of their 120-97 victory over the Orlando Magic, tensions flared between Draymond Green and head coach Steve Kerr - and it led to Green removing himself from the game entirely.
It all unfolded with Golden State trailing 71-66 early in the third. After a turnover and a brief exchange with an official, cameras caught Green and Kerr in a heated back-and-forth during a timeout.
The frustration was visible. But instead of letting it snowball, Green chose to walk away - literally.
“Tempers spilled over, and I thought it was best that I get out of there,” Green said afterward. “I don’t think it was a situation where it was going to get better.
It was best to remove myself. That’s it.”
Green headed to the locker room and didn’t return to the court for the rest of the game - a full 20 minutes of action. But here’s where things took a turn: his exit seemed to light a fire under the Warriors. What followed was a vintage Golden State third quarter - crisp ball movement, defensive intensity, and a 54-26 run that flipped the game on its head.
Veteran teammates, including Jimmy Butler, and members of the front office checked in on Green during his absence. He eventually returned to the bench in warmups, but never re-entered the game.
This marks Green’s second straight early exit - he was ejected in the previous game against the Suns - but he was quick to downplay any long-term friction with Kerr, pointing to their 12-year relationship built on mutual respect and shared success.
Kerr also addressed the incident postgame, making one thing clear: Green wasn’t dismissed by the team.
“Yeah, we got into it obviously,” Kerr said. “I took the timeout because I thought we lost our focus a little bit. He made his decision to go back to the locker room to cool off, and that’s all I’m going to say about it.”
Kerr didn’t shy away from the moment, but he also didn’t let it overshadow the bigger picture. He praised the team’s resilience after a sluggish first half, emphasizing that the Warriors stayed committed to their process even when shots weren’t falling.
“The group’s ready to go. We need Draymond and he’s a champion,” Kerr said. “All we can do is keep pushing, keep getting better.”
That’s the duality of Draymond Green - the fire that fuels him can sometimes spill over, but it’s also part of what’s made him the emotional heartbeat of this dynasty. Monday night was a reminder of both sides. And while the Warriors showed they can respond in his absence, there’s no doubt they’re better with him on the floor - locked in, fired up, and channeling that energy in the right direction.