Short videos circulated around social media Wednesday night during the Warriors’ 123-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Veteran Warriors forward Draymond Green appeared to be yelling at third-year guard Jordan Poole in a team huddle and the two had to be separated.
For Warriors president of basketball operations and general manager Bob Myers, the spat wasn’t a problem. In fact, he viewed it as a positive sign of his team’s camaraderie.
Myers joined 95.7 The Game’s “Steiny & Guru” Thursday afternoon to give his take on the situation. You can hear the full interview below:
“That it is important -- that kind of tension, that kind of passion and competitiveness, players getting at each other,” Myers said. “In a weird way -- I’m not trying to brush over it -- it is important to have it.
“I walked in the locker room and they were talking to each other and Draymond was explaining what he was upset. And Jordan was like, ‘OK I got it.’ And Draymond said, ‘But, this is where I’m coming from.’ It was a very healthy thing. Some might see it differently, but it was, I thought very good.”
Green has been known for his outbursts on teammates, most notably his episode with Kevin Durant in 2018. But Myers said it’s important for Green to express himself in the moment.
“Draymond -- I know this,” Myers said. “If he doesn’t get something off his chest, it doesn’t … He has to let it out. He doesn’t do well … So when he gets it out, then he moves on.”
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Considering coach Steve Kerr didn’t think it was a big deal, it seems this is just part of the season-long grind for the Warriors. Fans just happened to catch the moment on their cell phones for us to see.
Myers also talked about the return of Klay Thompson and if he’ll be in the starting five from the jump.
“Starting or not? That’s Steve Kerr,” Myers said. “I don’t know, I’d guess I’d think he’d start. I think he would. I don’t know though. I know that’s a big deal to people. … It’s not a big deal to us. As long as he gets back and healthy, and we can kind of keep growing the minutes is key.”
Myers also added that Thompson will play a huge role in the decision.
“Klay’s gonna decide, I imagine,” Myers said. “If he wants to start I don’t think we’d say no. I hope he starts.”
