Warriors’ focus on doing ‘right things’ to help Green, not punishment

LOS ANGELES — The Golden State Warriors held a team meeting Wednesday to discuss Draymond Green's indefinite suspension and the actions and behaviors that led to it.

It was an honest and moving conversation. But at the root of every message shared was commitment to Green, as a player and a person.

“The conversations we had yesterday were about him and making sure the focus was right and he was on a path that would allow him to be who he needs to be as a person , man, father, husband and basketball player. in that order,” Warriors guard Stephen Curry said.

Curry said the conversation was about “holding each other accountable — holding Draymond accountable — for what’s happening and what needs to change.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Green's latest altercation — hitting Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face in what Green called an attempt to sell a foul — was concerning because it was the fourth incident in the past year in which he acted. come out violently. These actions were not the same as his past expulsions caused by yelling at an official or other demonstrative antics during a match.

“The one who choked Rudy [Gobert]the one who struck Jusuf with a wild flail, the one who struck Jordan [Poole] “Last year, he’s the guy that needs to change,” Kerr said. “It's not just about an explosion on the field. It's about his life. It's about someone I believe in, someone I've known for decades and who I loved for his loyalty.”

After Green's assault on Poole, the Warriors and Green agreed that he would have to spend time away from the team, and he did so for less than a week. But that didn't change his behavior.

A source told ESPN that the Warriors lost all leverage to hold Green accountable when they failed to give him harsher punishment during last year's preseason altercation with Poole.

Now, with the league's intervention, there is a major shift in the organization's messaging toward Green and his behavior.

“The tone has obviously changed from any other suspension,” Curry said. “The days are gone where we were here just because we were playing basketball. … You have to take a step back and make sure everyone is right.”

Curry, Kerr and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. all stressed the importance of Green using his ban as a moment of personal growth. Dunleavy said he suggested to the league that there be no set timetable for the suspension in order to give Green as much time as he needs.

Curry expressed confidence in Green's ability to find his best side, saying part of Wednesday's meeting was Green recognizing his behavior needed to change.

However, Dunleavy couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be another incident when Green returned.

“I can’t guarantee that,” Dunleavy said. “I can just say that we will continue to do the right things to help him. I think we have done a decent job in the past and we will continue to work on all of this. There are many parties involved. The most important thing here for me is not punishment, it is help and assistance.”

On Wednesday evening, the league announced that Green's suspension period would be tied to meeting “certain league and team conditions prior to his return to play.”

“We want to see you at your best and the best way to do that is to get mentally and emotionally back to where you need to be,” NBA Executive Vice President Joe Dumars said on “First Take.” from ESPN. “That’s how we arrived at the indefinite.”

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Green, Dunleavy and Green's agent, Rich Paul, were scheduled to meet Thursday to begin discussing a consulting path for Green.

“A lot of things need to be done with people who are experts in this area,” Kerr said. “My role is to support Draymond as best I can. (…) We want to give him the space, time and support he needs to make meaningful change. (…) We are not not qualified to offer certain things. he needs.”

Green will remain with the team throughout his suspension, although he is not expected to be there every day. Dunleavy said it would be more beneficial for Green to stay connected to the group rather than “dump the guy somewhere.” Green was not with the team in Los Angeles on Thursday and will be out for at least a few days.

“We have to give it a few days,” Kerr said. “I think the team needs a little space. I think Draymond needs a little space. Draymond will do what he thinks is right and then move forward.”

The main message the Warriors have conveyed during Green's absences — particularly during his five-game suspension after choking Gobert — is how much they will miss him in games.

They stressed to Green that he had to do whatever it took to stay on the field. He missed eight games this season due to suspension, injury or personal reasons and was ejected from three other games.

“This year his ability has been great, but his availability has not been great,” Dunleavy said.

Dunleavy said the next 15 to 20 games will be crucial in determining what adjustments the team will need to make to its roster. Seeing how the team plays without Green will be more important in evaluating what to do, he said.

In the Warriors' 121-113 loss to the LA Clippers on Thursday night – Golden State's first game without Green – Kerr was replaced by Jonathan Kuminga as the starter, while trading Brandin Podziemski for Andrew Wiggins.

Kuminga was the obvious choice to replace Green on the court, according to Kerr, but he also wanted to complement some of Green's game with Podziemski's while Wiggins' struggles continued.

Kerr also wanted to keep Chris Paul and Dario Saric together on the second unit. It will be a rotation that Kerr sticks with for the foreseeable future, he said, as the team, which currently holds a 10-14 record and is three games out of 10th place in the Conference West, try to navigate the next sequence. The Warriors are forced to do this without their heart and soul.

“You're trying to keep the way we do things with a group that we've been doing it with for so long, and now you're in a position where that's a little bit threatened,” Curry said. “It's no big deal. Just acknowledge it. I have great confidence in what this group can do.”