As regulation comes to an end during Warriors vs Clippers a heated exchange between Draymond Green and Kevin Durant ensued on the bench with Klay Thompson playing peacemaker. pic.twitter.com/Za7IrmqOJ2
— adam (@ClippsMcGee) November 13, 2018
Things got testy between Kevin Durant and Draymond Green Monday night, in what was their first public confrontation of the season. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, turns out it was the “most intense” encounter they, or anyone on the Warriors, have had during the current era with Durant. The argument reportedly spilled over into the locker room after the Warriors lost to the Los Angeles Clippers, 121-116, in overtime.
Story with @MarcJSpearsESPN and me: Late game exchange between Kevin Durant/Draymond Green carried into locker room Monday night, w/ teammates loudly confronting Green for decision-making on final play of regulation. Scene described as one of most intense of this G-State era.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 13, 2018
The argument seemed to stem when Green dribbled the ball up-court and fumbled it away as regulation expired. In the below clip, you can see Green snatch the rebound from Durant, then choose not to pass to the reigning two-time NBA Finals MVP.
DRAYMOND FOR THE WIN. pic.twitter.com/pu67K5B8J6
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 13, 2018
During a timeout in overtime, Green, Durant, and Andre Iguodala got into it.
The heated exchange between Kevin Durant and Draymond Green after Dray didn’t pass to KD in the final seconds of regular for a chance to beat the Clippers. #Warriors pic.twitter.com/RjWrFiC2vr
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) November 13, 2018
It appeared DeMarcus Cousins tried calming down Green in the bottom clip. What’s ironic is after Cousins signed with the Warriors in the offseason, he said he anticipates some clashing — yet he was the peace-maker Monday night.
Here's another angle of Kevin Durant vs Draymond Green featuring DeMarcus Cousins trying to calm both of them down. The irony. I love it. pic.twitter.com/4Mx5bFaMrs
— adam (@ClippsMcGee) November 13, 2018
Clearly, tensions had not simmered after the game.
About 7 minutes before locker room opened last night, Kevin Durant bolted out, already dressed, skipped media, which he never does. When doors opened, Draymond Green was in the corner on his phone, much quieter than usual, last to leave, but vibe around the room pretty normal.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 13, 2018
From Wojnarowski’s ESPN.com story:
“Durant’s impending free agency heightens the sensitivity of the turmoil.
The organization is taking seriously the fallout of Monday night’s confrontation, spending Tuesday working through the issues that may have been created — or even advanced — within the team’s dynamic, league sources said.”
Wojnarowski later quoted Shaun Livingston, who dismissed the confrontation as a product of “team spirit.”
“Just team spirit,” Livingston told ESPN. “Team spirit. Guys wanted a different outcome than what happened. Obviously, Dray had the turnover, guys might have thought they were open or wanted the basketball, didn’t get it. Things happen like that in sports. But it was good to see some fire, some emotion.”