Steve Kerr on Thursday publicly rebuked Draymond Green’s actions for the first time since Tuesday’s altercation with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Golden State Warriors head coach told reporters that Green “took it too far” by grabbing Rudy Gobert around the neck and that the five-game suspension issued by the NBA on Wednesday was “deserved,” according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
Kerr added he took specific exception to Green putting his hands on another player, a step beyond the occasional trouble the 33-year-old gets himself into with referees.
“Draymond has to find a way to not cross the line – I’m not talking about an ejection or a technical – I’m talking about a physical act of violence,” Kerr added, courtesy ESPN’s Kendra Andrews. “That’s inexcusable.”
Immediately following Tuesday’s affair, Kerr defended Green for going after Gobert, claiming that the Warriors vet was responding to the T-Wolves center grabbing Klay Thompson. The fracas was initially spurred by Thompson getting tangled up with Jaden McDaniels, though Green escalated the altercation by putting Gobert in a headlock after the latter seemingly attempted to separate Thompson and McDaniels.
Gobert, however, disagreed with Kerr’s initial take.
“He’s backing his guy, but I think he knows,” the center told The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski and Sam Amick. “Deep inside, he (doesn’t) want to say it but his guy is a clown.”
Green will be eligible to return for Golden State on Nov. 28 against the Sacramento Kings. Forward Jonathan Kuminga started Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder in his place.
The Warriors and Timberwolves won’t meet again until their final regular-season encounter on March 24.
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