Kevin Durant Clarifies Comments That Had Draymond Green Upset After Suspension
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant took a moment to clear up his previous comments about Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green after the team’s 138–111 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.
A day after the NBA issued Green an indefinite suspension for striking Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face on Dec. 12, Durant said Green’s behavior was “insane to see” and that he hoped the Warriors’ star received the “help he needs” to “get back on the court.”
On Monday—two days after the NBA reinstated the Warriors’ forward—Green addressed Durant’s comments in an episode of The Draymond Green Show, saying he was “really pissed” at Durant for saying he hope that he “gets he help he needs.” Durant and Green were teammates in Golden State from 2016 to ’19.
After the Suns’ loss, Durant told reporters that he made his initial comments based on his notion of Green attending “therapy” and not from a place of disrespect.
“...Before I had made those comments, [people were] saying Draymond’s going to therapy and s---,” Durant said. "Like what am I supposed to think? They say somebody going to therapy, I'm hoping he gets better from that.
“I know some people look at me as this malicious snake, passive aggressive. I know how people feel about me sometimes. ... I don’t mean no harm by nobody. I don’t mean to disrespect him or his family if he felt that way. I’m just glad he’s back on the court.”
Green served a 12-game suspension for his behavior before re-joining the team ahead of the Warriors’ 133–118 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. Golden State went 7–5 without Green at the facility.
Although Green returned to the team, he has yet to take the court for a game. Meanwhile, the Suns (19–18) have lost five of their last 10 games and sit at ninth in the Western Conference standings.