The Golden State Warriors‘ season is over after failing to make the playoffs following a play-in loss to the Phoenix Suns, and for the first time in a while, it is unclear where the Warriors will be headed.

Warriors forward Draymond Green spoke on his podcast, The Draymond Green Show, about what he thinks is next for his head coach, Steve Kerr.

Green started by saying, “I hope he’s our coach next season,” but then later added his honest opinion. “You want my opinion? I think not. Just because it feels like that. It felt like that was it.”

Following the 111-96 loss to the Suns, Kerr brought in Stephen Curry and Green for a moment on the sidelines, and microphones picked up that Kerr said, “I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I love you guys to death. Thank you.”

Kerr will take the next couple of weeks to contemplate his future, but the signs are pointing to him retiring.

“I still love coaching, but I get it,” Kerr said in his press conference. “These jobs all have an expiration date. There is a run that happens, and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas.”

Green added that he has “never been so uncertain since earlier in my career in what happens next.” “But I’m truly at a loss now because you don’t know what direction will be next. … I also hope I’m on this team next season. We also don’t know that. Man, if it was, what a run.”

The Warriors have many decisions to make this offseason, including whether or not to keep Green. Green has a $27.6 million player option if the two sides cannot agree to an extension.

A blowout win over Orlando came with a loud side story Monday night: Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Draymond Green got into a heated sideline argument that ended with Green leaving the bench and never returning to the game.

>SLIDESHOW: MOST INFAMOUS SPORTS MUGSHOTS & THE STORIES BEHIND THEM!

The flare-up happened early in the third quarter at Chase Center with Golden State down 71–66. After Green committed a turnover, and continued to chat with an official. Kerr called a timeout and tried to pull his team into the huddle, later saying he felt the group had lost its focus. Instead, the timeout turned tense. Teammates and staff, which included Moses Moody and assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse, stepped in as Kerr and Green exchanged words. Later, Green walked off toward the locker room.

Both sides framed it as a moment that needed a pressure release, not a bigger fracture. Green said, “tempers spilled over, and he chose to remove himself because he didn’t think the situation would improve in the moment.”

Kerr confirmed Green wouldn’t have re-entered even after he returned to the bench in warmups before the fourth quarter.

The Warriors responded on the court. Stephen Curry ignited a third-quarter swing with a perfect shooting stretch, and Golden State turned the five-point deficit into a comfortable lead before cruising to a 120–97 victory. Curry finished with 26 points, and Jimmy Butler added 21 as the Warriors climbed back to .5 at 15–15.

The incident also added to a recent pattern: Green had been ejected in the previous game and, for a second straight night, wasn’t part of the closing minutes. After the final buzzer, the message from the locker room was essentially We’ve been here before.

The Golden State Warriors beat the Houston Rockets 109-106 to go up 3-1 in the series. The game-winning stop was made by the Warriors’ Draymond Green, who arguably shouldn’t have been allowed in the game.

Green earned a technical foul early in the second quarter when he set a hard screen on Amen Thompson. A skirmish followed and Green earned the technical foul along with Steph Curry and Dillon Brooks.

Later in the quarter, Green got into another fight with Tari Eason over a loose ball. It looked like a clear-cut double technical foul on first look. However, the referees decided asses Green with a flagrant foul instead, while Eason was assessed a technical.

A second technical would have ejected Green from the game.

“I got a technical tonight and there were guys way more aggressive than me,” Green said. “Yeah, that’s crazy.”

The referee’s decision mattered down the stretch. With 13 seconds left and the Rockets down one point, they elected to go to star big man Alperen Sengun, who already had 31 points.

Green drew the assignment.

The former defensive player of the year got the stop on Sengun, getting the Warriors the win and just one win away from advancing to the conference semifinals.

Game five is on Wednesday in Houston. The Warriors are searching for the gentlemen’s sweep.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr had to be held back after getting into an argument with referees during a game against the Mavericks on Wednesday. Draymond Green was among the team members holding Kerr back, providing an ironic twinge to the incident.

Kerr’s frustrations with officiating during the game boiled over early in the third quarter, when he called a timeout following a 5-0 Dallas run. Going all the way to center court, Kerr then engaged in a tirade. Green, known as a highly confrontational player, joined several assistants in trying to get the head coach back into the huddle. Their efforts failed, as Kerr was given a technical foul.

Golden State got back into contention in the fourth quarter but eventually lost 111-107, sending the team back to .500 with a 27-27 record. Steph Curry scored 25 points with eight assists and newly acquired forward Jimmy Butler scored 21 with nine rebounds. 

It was not enough to take down the Mavs, who have been unexpectedly effective since parting ways with Luka Doncic and immediately losing Anthony Davis to an injury. Leaning heavily on Kyrie Irving is working for now, as the new leader scored 42 points in a demanding 40-minute showing. Dallas is 29-26, desperately clinging to a playoff berth in eighth place in the Western Conference. 

As Golden State looks to rediscover its identity, most recently adding Butler to better support Curry, it’s clear that the process is affecting many team members accustomed to dynastic success. Kerr has spent the majority of his coaching career guiding overwhelmingly talented Golden State teams to championship contention. It’s a distinct possibility that the effort to build something new, regardless of its success, is taking a toll and showing itself in the form of increasing tensions. At least Green was there to provide a calming presence to proceedings.

Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green took a moment on his podcast this week to elaborate on a recent social media exchange between himself and former teammate Jordan Poole. Poole was quoted as saying that he only missed some of his Warriors teammates, leading Green to reply, “I really am sorry.”

It is unclear if Poole was indirectly addressing Green in his original comment, but many seemed to agree that the young Wizards guard still harbors ill feelings about a 2022 incident in which Green struck Poole in the face during practice.

“I responded because it’s been three years,” Green said Wednesday. “Like, let’s move on. We’ve moved on. I really am sorry. That statement [by Poole] was kind of like it was looking for some sympathy … kind of keep wanting to make me out to be the bad guy. Move on, bro. It is what it is. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have punched him. But it happened. Let’s move on.”

Over the course of his 13 seasons in the NBA, Green has become as notable for exceptional defense as he has for incidents and altercations. Though these typically play out on the floor against opponents, he has been at odds with Warriors coach Steve Kerr at times. Striking Poole stands out as an especially incendiary moment between teammates, one that some speculate facilitated the young player’s decline and move to Washington.

Though Poole was technically the one discussing his time on the Warriors, which he seemed to describe in generally positive terms, Green is the one who has properly dredged up his previous actions. Though he seems to regret striking his teammate, his insistence on moving on is undercut somewhat by the fact that he has returned to the topic multiple times. 

Green’s Warriors are currently 21-22, slipping down the Western Conference standings and struggling to replace veteran stars with fresher talent. Poole’s time with the Wizards continues to be disappointing despite his consistent level of performance. Washington is 6-36.

What did you think of the story? Leave a comment to let us know! Sign up for the free uSports email for the latest sports news & opinion!

Draymond Green was ejected from the Golden State Warriors’ game against the Orlando Magic Wednesday night. On his podcast Thursday, he took the blame for the inciting incident, in which he yelled at referee Ray Acosta.

“It just can’t happen,” Green said on The Draymond Green Show Thursday. “I said what I said. I deserved to be kicked out at that point. If I’m all the way honest with y’all, kind of was trying to turn my body and angle it to go to the bench, but I said what I said a little too soon before angling my body. … But, yeah, it just can’t happen.”

It was Green’s fourth ejection of the season, setting a new high for the controversial veteran. It also occurred four minutes into the game after Green directed several negative comments at Acosta after an early personal foul.

Despite losing Green almost immediately, the Warriors rallied behind a sparkling performance 17-point, 10-assist performance from Steph Curry to defeat Orlando 101-93. Forward Andrew Wiggins also scored 23 points in the contest, making up for Green’s absence and marking a potential turnaround for the struggling big man.

Green has been one of many players on Golden State who has struggled in the 2023-24 season. Beyond Curry, who continues to produce at a high level, the team has been extremely ineffective in comparison to previous years.

Unlike most of his teammates, however, Green has struggled with behavioral problems as well; he was suspended earlier in the season for a violent altercation with the Suns’ Jusuf Nurkic and has repeatedly acted out despite apologizing on several occasions.

When Green was one of the league’s top defenders, he was a key member of the Warriors’ dynasty. He has been more of a distraction this season, however, and has been one of several players to blame for the team’s skid in the Western Conference. Golden State is currently 10th with a 38-34 record, putting them in danger of missing the playoffs entirely for the first time since 2013.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James responded to Draymond Green Thursday, confirming that he would eventually appear on Green’s podcast after the Warriors forward complained to reporters.

Green was asked if he was upset that James had not appeared on The Draymond Green Show after news came out that James and former NBA guard J.J. Redick would be forming their own podcast called, Mind the Game.

“I’m a little upset LeBron is going on a podcast and he still hasn’t been on The Draymond Green Show,” Green said. “But when it’s your own thing you kinda can’t say anything.”

Underneath an Instagram post that included Green’s quote, James delivered a succinct response.

“He knows I’m going to do his pod,” James commented.

James and Redick are reportedly beginning their podcast in order to create a product solely dedicated to the sport of basketball. Both men, especially Redick, have complained about the current state of sports media, which they feel is driven more by sensationalism than analysis to an extent. Reviews of the duo’s first episode this week confirm this, as it has been described as a thorough discussion of game action and skill development. There is less in the way of traditional opinion-based discussion, which has become a norm in mainstream sports media.

Green’s podcast, on the other hand, is most well-known for the host’s more outspoken and emotional moments which often accompany his tense moments on the floor for Golden State. James has not made an appearance, but the podcast consistently enjoys a star-studded list of guests, from Isiah Thomas to Paul Pierce.

Stepping out of their respective booths, James and Green could soon be postseason opponents as both the Lakers and Warriors seem to be on their way to the NBA Play-In Tournament to determine the seventh and eighth seeds in the Western Conference. In ninth place currently, Los Angeles holds a half-game lead over Golden State with one more game played.

The story of Draymond Green begging and pleading for Kevin Durant to join the Warriors after they blew a 3-1 series lead in the 2016 NBA Finals has now been properly sensationalized. Green wasn’t begging, he was conspiring with Durant behind closed doors while they were playing against each other in the conference finals.

Durant and Green discussed the texts they sent to each other on an episode of The ETCS Podcast Kevin Durant in 2021.

Durant: “I done heard a couple stories. From my end, we sent some texts on just, ‘Yo, I seen that? You seen that? Alright, bet. That’s really what it was, bro. It wasn’t no urgent FaceTime call. It was exactly what I just said. ‘Yo, you see what just happened?’ ‘Bet. Alright, I’m on the way.’

Green: “That’s exactly what it was. It was this whole narrative of, ‘You called Kevin crying from the parking lot.’ I’m like, ‘Yo, this s–t can … like y’all added a theatrical sense to make this s–t a movie. You got to make s–t for TV, but you got to add on a little bit. So people just started pouring on bro, but I wasn’t about to come out and fight it. However y’all think Kevin got here in your mind, just roll with that if that’s what helps you out.”

Green was definitely pushing to get Durant on his team. The team had just won their first championship in 40 years, and Green was instrumental in the franchise having reportedly just landed a $93 million max deal with the Warriors.

Reportedly.

During a recent appearance on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast with Carmelo Anthony, Green said he only took $82 million in referring to that $93 million deal to give the Warriors an opportunity to sign Durant that summer.

However, a report from Yahoo back in 2015 also said that Green and the Warriors had broken off contract negotiations, which suggests that they weren’t exactly ready to pay him $93 million. So maybe Green is just saying that he took less money to look good when he wasn’t going to get that extra money anyway.

Regardless, this is what Green said.

“When I signed my deal [in 2015], B.J. Armstrong was my agent. The conversation me and B.J. had was, ‘Listen, here’s [the Warriors’] whole [salary] cap table. Here’s what it is next year. The cap next year jumps to this. Look who’s a free agent next year. KD. Here’s [the amount of money] you can take, and y’all will still be able to pay [KD] max. The number was five [years] for $85 [million].'”

Whether Green helped the Warriors out or not, the truth is that Durant’s signing played a major role in the Warriors dynasty. Between Durant, Green and the rest of that elite Warriors lineup, they won three championships in four seasons from 2015-18.

The NBA has suspended Draymond Green indefinitely after the Warriors forward punched Jusuf Nurkic during an on-court altercation Tuesday night. The league made the announcement Wednesday, the latest in a long line of disciplinary actions for the controversial star.

The incident occurred in the third quarter of Golden State’s game Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns. Green and Nurkic were matching up when Green abruptly turned around and struck Nurkic. He was given a flagrant foul and ejected. He apologized after the game.

“I’m not one to apologize for things I meant to do,” Green told reporters. “But I do apologize to Jusuf. Even though I didn’t intend to hit him, I sell calls with my arms. I don’t fall to sell a call. I’m not a flopper. I was just selling the call because he was grabbing and pulling my hip. So, I spun away. And, unfortunately, I hit him.”

For his part, Nurkic did not buy Green’s explanation for his actions.

“I don’t know man,” Nurkic said. “I was behind the play. What’s going on [with] him, I don’t know. Personally, I feel like that brother need the help.”

Green’s apology seems to have done very little for NBA officials as well, as the league cited his lengthy history of poor behavior throughout his career.

Just last month, he was suspended for five games after putting the Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert in a headlock during a multi-player spat.

In the wake of Green’s indefinite suspension, some have blamed the Warriors organization for failing to keep Green in check. These critics have often cited an inter-squad event last season when Green was caught on camera attacking former teammate Jordan Poole.

Green will have the opportunity to appeal this indefinite suspension, which could technically keep him out of the league for good if it is upheld. The action will at least bar him from competing for a lengthy stretch and could easily end his 2023-24 season.

Warriors forward Draymond Green has been suspended for five games by the NBA after getting into an altercation with Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert on Tuesday. Green put Gobert in a headlock during the heated multi-player exchange, provoking the NBA to act.

NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars reportedly said that Green’s status as a “repeat offender” resulted in a lengthier suspension. Gobert has been extremely vocal, repeatedly calling Green a “clown” to reporters.

The Timberwolves star claimed after the game that he was expecting Green to misbehave after he learned that Steph Curry would not play.

“It’s kind of funny because before the game, I was telling myself that Steph is not playing, so I know Draymond is going to try and get ejected,” Gobert said. “Because every time Steph doesn’t play, he doesn’t want to play — it’s his guy Steph. He’ll do anything he can to get ejected.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr defended Green after the game, as well as Warriors guard Klay Thompson, who was also ejected after the scuffle. Thompson will not be suspended. Gobert responded to Kerr’s defense with a familiar sentiment.

“He’s backing his guy, but I think he knows,” Gobert told The Athletic. “Deep inside, he (doesn’t) want to say it but his guy is a clown.”

Green is well known for his behavior on the court, which often frustrates the Warriors’ opponents and occasionally leads to physical incidents. This suspension is the fifth of his career but the first to extend beyond a single game. It will cost him more than $700,000 in compensation. Only one suspension has ever come for an action that took place during play.

For his part in the incident, Gobert will have to pay a $25,000 fine. Thompson and the Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels will have to pay the same. Gobert is expected to appeal.

“Every situation is different, but to me, that was more than just a reaction. That was a personal attack,” Gobert said. “Me being fined when I was being a peacemaker, and I chose to keep my hands up while I was being assaulted, it’s shameful. Shameful. And I’m going to appeal that fine.”

The NBA announced that Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green would be suspended one game for stepping on Kings forward Domantas Sabonis in Game 2 of the teams’ first-round Western Conference matchup. With Green out and the Warriors down 2-0 in the series, the team will now turn to Kevon Looney to support stars Steph Curry and Klay Thompson as they look to come back in Game 3.

“Everybody’s locked in, our level of focus has raised, our back’s against the wall so we have to go out there and play with a level of focus we haven’t played with all year,” Looney said after practice Wednesday. “I think we’re ready and I think we’re excited.”

In the first two games of their first-round playoff game, the Warriors have been struck by a wave of historic momentum, as the Kings have enjoyed a pair of rabid home crowds at the Golden 1 Center. Sacramento fans, who have not seen the team make a playoff run in 17 years, have propelled the Kings to two straight wins against the defending NBA champions.

On the floor, Curry and Thompson have been effective while key contributor Andrew Wiggins has done his part as well. But injury and performance concerns surrounding guard Jordan Poole proved to be a setback in Game 2, and Green’s suspensions will only make matters worse for Golden State.

Players like Looney, a six-foot-nine bench player capable of playing center and power forward, will need to provide size in the paint to counter Sabonis while giving the team’s army of shooters space at the perimeter. He will lead a group of players that coach Steve Kerr plans to cycle through in an effort to compete with a weakened roster.

“It’s more than likely going to be a game where we play a lot of people and we just have to put our best foot forward,” Kerr said after practice. “I believe in our guys. I have no doubt we can go out there and get this done.”

While Golden State has struggled to band together on the road, the Kings have performed incredibly well to earn their lead in the series. De’Aaron Fox and Sabonis have been extremely effective around the perimeter and down low, respectively, with Fox turning in a particularly strong 38-point performance in Game 1. Meanwhile, shooting guard Malik Monk has been a revelation for the team, scoring 50 points combined early in the series.

In his most recent feud, Draymond Green delivered an intense tirade Wednesday against Dillon Brooks, taking to the Draymond Green Show podcast to call the Grizzlies forward a “clown” who has never won a championship. The Warriors and Grizzlies will face off Thursday night.

Green’s rant toward Brooks was in response to comments Brooks made to ESPN’s Tim Keown in an article published on March 3.

“I don’t like Draymond at all,” Brooks said. “I just don’t like Golden State. I don’t like anything to do with them. Draymond talks a lot. Gets away with a lot, too. His game is cool – with Golden State -– but if you put him anywhere else, you’re not going to know who Draymond is. He plays with heart, plays hard, knows the ins and outs of their defense. I guess that’s why they like him over there.”

After reading such strong words for the Warriors star, who has had no problem instigating conflicts himself in the past, many fans eagerly awaited Green’s response to the comments. He didn’t hold back.

“He said, ‘I just don’t like Golden State.’ I, quite frankly, wouldn’t like a team that beats me all the time either … Quite frankly, you were a little kid in high school watching us win championships,” Green said. “You should be happy that you even witnessed that … You’re a fan. That’s crazy.”

Green didn’t stop there and continued to criticize Brooks for several more minutes. Beyond his age, Brooks’ playing ability was also called into question later on.

“If you ever wondered why the Memphis Grizzlies is not ready to compete for a championship, look no further than this idiot right here,” Green said. “They actually are depending on this guy to help them win a championship, and he says ‘his game is cool.’ Quite frankly, that just shows how little you know about basketball.”

For many NBA fans, feuds off the court may offer as much entertainment as games on the floor. Green has been one of the league’s most vocal members for several years now and firmly met the expectations of many in his response to Brooks.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green could receive disciplinary action for an altercation during practice Wednesday with teammate Jordan Poole. The two were arguing when Green reportedly threw a punch at Poole, the sort of escalation Green has been known for from time to time over the course of his career.

The Athletic reported Wednesday night that the Warriors were “seriously considering” disciplining Green after the altercation forced the team to stop practice and take players back to the locker room area. Potential discipline was described as seemingly “imminent.”

Because practices typically fall outside the league’s code of conduct, transgressions like these are usually handled internally. If Green is to be punished, Warriors management will act soon.

Teammate Andre Iguodala tweeted early Thursday morning to express support for Poole, urging people not to rush to conclusions or place blame on the young players.

“What we not gone do is talk crazy about my young fella JP… great character kid,” Iguodala said.

Green and Poole have vastly different roles within Golden State’s organization, as one serves as an established team leader while the other is a relatively new contributor. Green has been with the team since his rookie year in 2012, and his defensive skills have been described as a necessary asset in the team’s four championship wins in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022.

Poole, on the other hand, has only been with the team since 2019 and enjoyed his first real success this past season, when he started 51 times and scored 18.5 points per game. His improvement was key to the Warriors’ most recent run to the Finals.

It is unclear how extensive the punishment for Green may be, but it isn’t the first time the player has raised tensions on the floor with teammates. In 2018, the forward was suspended for one game for verbally berating Kevin Durant after a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Green has an established reputation for challenging teammates in practice, though no incident has ever gone as far as the one with Poole on Wednesday.

Though he was ejected with about a minute remaining in the first half, Draymond Green made sure to greet each coach and teammate in the tunnel after the Golden State Warriors’ 117-116 Game 1 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

“This is a huge game to win, especially with [Green] going out early,” teammate Jordan Poole said. “You really have to find that grit and grind and buckle down and lock in offensively and defensively. He is such a big part of our team … We were able to fill in for the energy he has.”

As Memphis’ Brandon Clarke went for a dunk with 1:18 showing in the second quarter, Green initially made contact with his head as Green went to swat the ball but grabbed Clarke’s jersey in the process.

Memphis was up 61-55 at the break.

“My hand got caught in his jersey!” Green pleaded to the refs, who deemed it a flagrant foul 2.

Green flailed around – eerily similar to Antonio Brown’s antics at MetLife Stadium – the court for several seconds, high-fived his teammates, was met with boos, and then exited. He finished with six points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block.

Warriors uber star Stephen Curry told the refs the ejection was “f–ing crazy.”

Though the Grizzlies didn’t feel the same way.

“He’s been known for flagrant fouls in his career,” Clarke said. “I’ve watched him on TV my whole life, it feels like. I wasn’t really shocked. I don’t really like to flop or nothing, but he did hit me pretty hard twice when I saw it again … It is not shocking that he did that. Something he has done in the past.”

“The first part was the wind-up and significant contact to the face, and then the pull down from the jersey grab and throw down to the floor to an airborne vulnerable player makes that unnecessary and excessive,” Crew Chief Kane Fitzgerald said in a pool report.

“I think tonight it was probably a reputation thing more so than a hard foul,” Green said after the game on his podcast.

Golden State began the third on a 13-5 run, which appeared to be the momentum shift in the victory.

Covid-19 has ravaged the NBA, and another game will have to be postponed. The game between the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors, meant to be played last night, will have to wait after the Nuggets did not have the eight healthy players required for a game. This is the eleventh game the NBA has postponed for COVID reasons.

Warriors forward Draymond Green voiced his frustrations on Twitter.

“How do you continue to cancel games when you’ve implemented rules to prevent this from happening?” Green said. “Is that not a competitive advantage for other teams? The guys we didn’t have due to the protocol list played no role in Tuesday’s loss? Pick a side but don’t straddle the fence.”

Green’s insinuation that the Nuggets 89-86 win on Tuesday was unfair came from the fact that the Warriors weren’t at full strength either – they also had key players in Covid protocol including Green himself and point guard Jordan Poole. Green also argued that the Nuggets have an advantage when the game is made up since it would likely add a back-to-back game on the Warriors schedule.

“So when the game is rescheduled (which will probably take a day away from our “break”), we will play them at full strength… But they got to sneak a win when we weren’t at full strength, only two days ago??? Let’s make it make some sense here.”

The Nuggets are without coach Michael Malone, two assistant coaches, forwards Jeff Green and Zeke Nnaji, guard Bones Hyland. This adds to the eight players that were already out due to injury and non-COVID-related illnesses.

The Nuggets are scheduled to play the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center tomorrow while next up for the Warriors is tomorrow night’s game against the Utah Jazz.

Carmelo Anthony invited Draymond Green onto his podcast What’s in Your Glass? where the two NBA All-Stars touched upon the Warriors’ power forward’s public feud with ex-teammate Kevin Durant. Green reached out to Durant to suggest the idea of filming a candid talk. However, this did not come without difficulty.

“I think there was a time period of where he wasn’t trying to say nothin’ to me. I think there was a time period where my number might have been blocked from his phone … I could only talk to him through Instagram DM.”

This segment comes just two weeks after the highly anticipated Bleacher Report interview between Green and Durant that premiered on August 18, in which the pair addressed the infamous argument after the Clippers game in 2018 among other subjects.

The incident occurred at the end of regulation during a game in November 2018. After Clippers guard Lou Williams missed a fadeaway that would’ve broken a 106-106 tie, Green secured the rebound with five seconds remaining and proceeded to dribble the ball full speed down the court before turning it over as time expired. Durant, a prodigious offensive threat who has won four scoring titles, begged for the ball and subsequently voiced his frustration to his coaches and teammates.

Eight minutes into the sit-down interview, Green asked the long-awaited question, “How much did our argument against the Clippers drive you to ultimately leave the Warriors?” to which Durant responded:

“It wasn’t the argument. It was the way that everybody — Steve Kerr — acted like it didn’t happen. [Warriors GM] Bob Myers then tried to just discipline you and think that would put the mask over everything. It really felt like that was such a big situation for us as a group, the first time we went through something like that. We had to get that [s—] all out … We tried to dance around it.”

Regardless of who fans may choose to defend, the talk was authentic and immensely entertaining for the basketball universe to revel in.

Stephen Curry will remain with the Golden States Warriors for the next five years after agreeing to a four-year extension worth $215 million.

At 33 years of age, Curry showed no signs of slowing down this past season. He led the league in scoring with a career-high 32.0 points per game, was named to the All-NBA First Team and finished third in MVP voting behind Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic.

The Warriors fell short of the postseason in 2021, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in tournament. With Klay Thompson eventually returning from a torn Achilles, the continued development of former No. 2 pick James Weisman and the addition of recent lottery picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, Golden State is confident it can prolong its championship window with No. 30 leading the way.

By signing this extension, Curry becomes the first player in NBA history to ink multiple deals worth at least $200 million. 

He re-upped with Golden State in the summer of 2017 for $201 million. His most recent deal will take him through 2026, where he will be 38 years old, thus setting himself up to play for the Warriors for the entirety of his Hall-of-Fame career.

Bradley Beal will not participate in the Tokyo Olympics after he was placed in the COVID-19 protocol.

“Bradley Beal, who was placed under USA Basketball’s health & safety protocols on Wednesday, will remain in protocol & will be unable to participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games,” USA Basketball announced. “Out of an abundance of caution, Jerami Grant has been placed under health & safety protocols.”

USA Basketball later revealed that their Friday exhibition game against Australia was canceled. “Out of an abundance of caution, the USA Men’s National Team exhibition versus Australia on Friday has been canceled,” USA Basketball tweeted.

“Our goal overall is we’re trying to get everybody safely to Tokyo,” the U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Popovich said, “and at the same time prepare a basketball team to be successful. We’re trying to be vigilant about what we do, where we go.”

Earlier this week, Beal was excited to play for the Olympic team as it was a lifelong dream he’s had since he was a kid. Popovich and Draymond Green expressed their sympathies for Beal.

“I’m dying for [Beal]. We all are,” Popovich said. “Since he was a little kid, this has been a dream of his, and he was playing great. … For him and his immediate family, it’s devastating. We just feel horrible about it.”

“It’s costing people opportunities of a lifetime. It sucks,” forward Draymond Green said. “We all came in hoping we wouldn’t be affected by it. It’s just not the way it’s gone.”

USA Basketball officials met on Thursday to discuss a possible replacement for Beal.

Ben Simmons is coming off a historically bad playoff run, but the three-time All-Star is still a worthwhile prospect – at least for some teams. Below are some possible spots Simmons could fit in well with, despite his five-year, $177 million contract.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

In this theoretical deal, the 76ers would deal Simmons in exchange for a first-round pick and newly acquired Kemba Walker. Walker already doesn’t fit in OKC’s schematics, and Simmons’ creator playstyle along with his size makes him a nice fit in the Thunder’s frontcourt. Walker would also provide Philadelphia with a three-point threat, something they sorely lack with Simmons on the court.

2. Indiana Pacers

The Sixers could deal Simmons in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon and T.J. Warren. The Pacers need a mix-up on their roster, as they have exited in the first round of the playoffs every year since 2016. Additionally, they lack a robust defensive presence on the perimeter. Simmons would fill in nicely here, providing lockdown defense and filling in where Brogdon normally fits in on the offensive side of the ball. Philadelphia would greatly benefit from Brogdon’s free-throw shooting and his ability to shoot the deep ball.

3. Portland Trail Blazers

Philadelphia could turn to the Trail Blazers for a trading partner and give up Simmons in exchange for CJ McCollum. Portland is in desperate need of a rebuild and a new identity. A defensive-minded Simmons could help shake up the Trail Blazers. McCollum would no longer be the scoring threat he is with Portland, but he can be an assist man when necessary, which is exactly how he would be used on the Sixers. Not to mention, McCollum shoots the three better than most players in the league.

4. Chicago Bulls

In order to get Chicago interested in a trade, Philadelphia would need to give up both Simmons and a 2022 first-round pick. In exchange, the 76ers would receive Zach LaVine and Tomáš Satoranský. Simmons would pair perfectly with Colby White on the defensive side of the ball, while also providing a big man presence from a player who has the agility of a guard. For Philadelphia, LaVine provides permitter offense. Pairing him with perennial All-Star Joel Embiid would make for a killer combination.

5. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors would receive Simmons but would be forced to deal picks from 2022 and 2023, as well as Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins would benefit from not having to be the number two option on offense and would be a solid wing defender when needed. On the other side of the trade, a duo of Simmons and Draymond Green would be terrifying for Western Conference opponents. Simmons playing with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson would also alleviate pressure on Simmons to shoot the three-point shot, which could open up other offensive opportunities.

6. San Antonio Spurs

The final trade scenario would have Simmons shipped to the Spurs in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Lonnie Walker IV and a 2022 first-round draft pick. DeRozan would give Philadelphia deeply-needed scoring, alleviating some of the burden normally carried by Embiid. He could also be an assist man, which he has proven capable of during his time with the Spurs. Walker would be a fantastic addition by providing scoring off the bench, which would deepen the weapons Philadelphia has available. For San Antonio, Simmons would give a younger presence on the court, and provide a defensive presence sorely lacking in the Spurs’ starting five.

The summer Olympics are right around the corner, and the United States is seemingly poised to accomplish great things, particularly in basketball with its latest two commits. Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green have committed to the United States basketball team and will compete in the Tokyo Olympics, according to The Athletic‘s Shams Charania and Joe Vardon.

These players are the first known potential players for the summer and set a good veteran foundation. With the rest of the roster expected to be finalized by late June, training camp for Team USA is set to start in July in Las Vegas with San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. The group stage of the Olympics tournament will be held from July 25 to August 1, and the knockout stage will be from August 3 to August 7.

Green brings some needed experience and toughness, as he was a part of the 2016 U.S. team that won gold in the 2016 Rio games. He is coming off another standout year defensively, as well as an underrated year on the offensive side of the ball. Green was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team for the fourth time and was a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year award. He finished the season averaging 7.0 points, 8.9 assists, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. His 8.9 assists per game ranked third in the league, and his high IQ and playmaking skills will make everyone’s life easier in Tokyo. Although his Warriors (39–33) missed the playoffs after losing to the Lakers and Grizzlies in the play-in games, Green should be extra motivated to have a strong showing.

Lillard has never officially competed for U.S. basketball but expressed his interest in doing so earlier this season. He’ll fit like a glove next to Green, who is used to playing with a similar player in Stephen Curry. Lillard is coming off yet another stellar season where he averaged 28.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 7.5 assists to lead Portland (42–30) to the No. 6 seed. His team was bounced out of the first round of the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets in six games.