Warriors coach Steve Kerr says Draymond Green’s indefinite suspension gives the controversial veteran a proper opportunity “step away and make a change” in his life, also hitting back at “sickening” criticism of Steph Curry’s leadership.
It comes ahead of Golden State’s first game without Green when it faces the LA Clippers on Friday (all times AEDT) since the forward’s clash with Phoenix’s Jusuf Nurkic that saw him ejected for the third time this season and banned indefinitely by the NBA.
In addition to the 10-13 Warriors being without Green, Kerr made another change to his starting line-up, moving Andrew Wiggins to the bench, while Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski join the opening five.
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Green suspended by NBA ‘indefinitely’ | 00:34
Addressing the Green situation for the first time since his suspension, Kerr said it was the right thing to do for all parties and that it’d help the 33-year old from a personal standpoint.
“The suspension makes sense,” Kerr told reporters Thursday.
“To me, this is about more than basketball. It’s about helping Draymond and an opportunity for Draymond to step away and to make a change in his approach, in his life.
“And that’s not an easy thing to do, that’s not something you say, ‘OK, we’re going to do five games’. And then he’s going to be fine. … That’s not the answer, to pick a number. The answer is to help Draymond.
“Give him the help he needs and an opportunity you make a change that will not only help him and our team — but help him for the rest of his life. This is not just about an outburst on the court.”
Green ejected for wild swinging arm | 00:54
It continued a host of undisciplined acts from Green in recent times. Just a few weeks ago, he copped a five-game suspension for putting Minnesota’s Rudg Gobert in a chokehold, while Green in October last year punched then teammate Jordan Poole.
“This is about someone I believe in and have known for a decade. Who I love for his loyalty, his commitment, his passion. His love for his teammates and family. Trying to help that guy,” Kerr added.
“Because the one who grabbed and choked Rudy, the one who took a wild flail at Jusuf and the one who punched Jordan last year, that’s the guy who has to change. He knows that.”
Kerr also appeared to take a shot at First Take’s Stephen A. Smith, who recently questioned Curry’s leadership after teammate Green’s third ejection for the season.
“Steph is as good of a leader as I’ve ever been around,” he said.
“The guy is an amazing human being. And what he’s done the past decade in leading this team through all of the ups and then the downs and the turmoil.
“For anybody to question Steph Curry’s leadership, it’s actually kind of sickening to me. And I saw some of it yesterday. It was disgusting.”
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