Draymond Green Leaves Bench After Heated Exchange With Steve Kerr in Warriors Win

Posted : 23 December 2025

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green walked off the bench during Monday night’s game against the Orlando Magic after a heated confrontation with head coach Steve Kerr.

The incident occurred early in the third quarter, when the Warriors were trailing 71-66. Green had just committed a turnover and was engaged with an official when Kerr called a timeout, feeling his team lacked focus, which sparked the argument.

Kerr acknowledged the disagreement but kept details private. “We had it out a little bit,” he said. “He made his decision to go back to the locker room to cool off. That’s all I’m going to say about it.”

Meanwhile, teammates Moses Moody and assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse tried to calm Green, who ultimately chose to leave the court and head to the locker room.

Green described his decision as a way to prevent further escalation. “Tempers spilled over, and I thought it was best that I get out of there,” he said.

He spent the final eight and a half minutes of the third quarter in the locker room, where veteran teammates and some front office staff checked on him. Although he returned to the bench before the fourth quarter, he never re-entered the game, and Kerr confirmed he would not have gone back in.

This marked the second consecutive game in which Green left prematurely. On Saturday, he was ejected after only eight minutes against the Phoenix Suns, and Monday’s departure added to his limited playing time. Despite the incident, Kerr emphasized Green’s importance to the team.

Following Green’s exit, the Warriors regained control behind a hot shooting stretch from Stephen Curry, who went 6-for-6 in the third quarter. Curry finished with 26 points, while Jimmy Butler contributed 21. Golden State went on to win 120-97, improving their record to 15-15. Curry downplayed the drama, noting the team maintained a positive atmosphere after the win.

The confrontation came amid scrutiny of Green’s recent performances, as he had committed 13 turnovers over the team’s previous two losses. Monday’s turnover was his first of the night, and Green defended his play, stating he had effectively run the offense during his time on the court.

Both he and Kerr indicated that the incident would not affect their long-term relationship, reflecting the familiarity and occasional friction that comes with 12 seasons together.

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Draymond Green Leaves Bench After Heated Exchange With Steve Kerr in Warriors Win

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