Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (R) totaled nine points and seven rebounds in 17: 46 of action during a win over the Orlando Magic on Monday in San Francisco. Photo by John G. Mabanglo/EPA
Dec. 23 (UPI) — Draymond Green engaged in an animated verbal feud with coach Steve Kerr, left the bench and never returned during a Golden State Warriors victory over the Orlando Magic.
Green and Kerr exchanged words during a timeout in the third quarter of the 120-97 win Monday in San Francisco. The veteran forward totaled nine points and seven rebounds in 17: 46 of action.
“Tempers spilled over,” Green told reporters. “I just thought it was best that I got out of there. I don’t think it was a situation where it wasn’t going to get better. It was just best to remove myself. That’s it.”
Green said “basketball,” when asked about the cause of the argument. He also said “people lose their emotions sometimes,” but did not elaborate. He expects the Warriors to move on and his relationship with Kerr to be “all right.”
The Warriors trailed 71-66 about 3: 29 into the third quarter when Kerr called timeout. The Warriors coach sat in a chair, facing players, before getting into a verbal exchange with Green. The Warriors veteran eventually stood up and walked from the bench area to a Chase Center tunnel and into the locker room.
Brandin Podziemski replaced Green in the Warriors lineup.
“We got into it obviously,” Kerr said of his interaction with Green. “I took the timeout because I felt like we lost our focus a little bit.
“We had it out a little bit and he made his decision to go back to the locker