Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr was quick to denounce Draymond Green’s actions during a fight Tuesday night against the Timberwolves.
Green used a prolonged headlock on Minnesota center Rudy Gobert during a scuffle, which resulted in the NBA suspending Green for five games.
Kerr believes the league made an appropriate decision.
“He took it too far,” Kerr said before the Warriors’ 128-109 loss to the Thunder on Thursday. “Draymond was wrong. He knows that. It’s a bad look, and the five games are deserved.”
The incident occurred in response to the scuffle between Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels, with Green trying to pull Gobert away from the action but ultimately causing more harm than good.
“I don’t have a problem with [Green] trying to get Rudy off of Klay … but he’s got to let go,” Kerr said. “He hung on for six, seven seconds. It was a terrible visual for the league, for Draymond and for everybody.”
This altercation was described to be acted “in an unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner” according to a statement from NBA executive vice president Joe Dumars.
“Draymond has to find a way to not cross the line,” Kerr said. “I’m not talking about getting an ejection or a technical, I’m talking about a physical act of violence. That’s inexcusable. We have to do everything we can to give him the help and assistance he needs to be able to draw that distinction between being an incredible competitor … but he can’t cross that line. He crossed it the other night, for sure.”
This suspension is the fifth of Green’s NBA career.
Green’s last suspension came after he stomped on the chest of Kings center Domantas Sabonis in Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs against Sacramento.
Thompson, McDaniels and Gobert were each fined $25,000 following the incident.
