Warriors coach says suspended star must 'find a way to not cross the line' into inexcusable physical violence.
Sonja Chen | The Associated Press
Warriors coach Steve Kerr acknowledged Draymond Green’s role in escalating Tuesday’s scuffle with Rudy Gobert.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) \u2013<\/strong>\u00a0Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Draymond Green was \u201cwrong\u201d and \u201ctook it too far\u201d when he\u00a0put Minnesota\u2019s Rudy Gobert in a headlock<\/a><\/span>, agreeing that the five-game suspension handed down by the NBA was deserved.
\u201cDraymond was wrong,\u201d Kerr said Thursday before the Warriors\u2019 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. \u201cHe knows that. It\u2019s a bad look. The five games is deserved.\u201d
The NBA cited Green\u2019s “history of unsportsmanlike acts<\/a><\/span>” in determining the length.
The altercation occurred before two minutes had elapsed in the first quarter on Tuesday, when Golden State\u2019s Klay Thompson and Minnesota\u2019s Jaden McDaniels got in a shoving match near midcourt following a Timberwolves possession. Gobert stepped in and grabbed hold of Thompson before Green rushed in and pulled Gobert away from behind with his arm around the center\u2019s neck in what the league called \u201can unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner.\u201d
Thompson\u2019s jersey was ripped during the scuffle, and he, Green and McDaniels were all ejected. Thompson and McDaniels were each assessed a technical foul, while Green was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2. It was Green\u2019s second ejection in three games.
\u201cHe definitely took it too far,\u201d<\/strong> Kerr said. \u201cI didn\u2019t have a problem with him getting Rudy off of Klay because the rule of thumb is you don\u2019t put your hands on another player on the other team. … But he\u2019s got to let go. He hung on for six, seven seconds, and it was a terrible visual for the league, for Draymond, for everybody.\u201d
Thompson, McDaniels and Gobert were also penalized for their involvement, each receiving a $25,000 fine from the league.
But Green will pay the biggest price, both in terms of games missed and money lost. The suspension will cost him $769,704 in forfeited salary.
The Golden State forward has a notably fiery style of play and does not shy away from picking up fouls, but he has also been known to escalate situations too far. Kerr said the team is working with Green to rein in his behavior.
\u201cDraymond has to find a way to not cross the line,\u201d<\/strong> Kerr said. \u201cI\u2019m not talking about getting an ejection or getting a technical. I\u2019m talking about a physical act of violence. I mean, that\u2019s inexcusable. We have to do everything we can to give him the help and the assistance that he needs to be able to draw that distinction between being an incredible competitor … but he can\u2019t cross that line.\u201d
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