The Golden State Warriors began their NBA championship defense in the bitterest of notes.
Draymond Green hit his teammate jordan poole in the face during training camp, leading to Green being sidelined for a week.
Draymond Green, #23 of the Golden State Warriors, assists Jordan Poole, #3, during Game 5 of Round 1 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2023 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California . (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Green was fined by the organization but not suspended, and the four-time NBA champion was in the starting lineup for the 2022-23 season opener.
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Golden State struggled to regain its championship level of play all season, eventually falling to the los angeles lakers in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
During his exit interview at the end of the season, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr discussed how Green’s hit impacted the team during the season.
«There was some of that missing this year for sure,» Kerr said Tuesday when asked about the team’s chemistry throughout the season. «There’s no hiding it — the incident with Draymond and Jordan earlier in the year played a part in that. It’s hard not to let that affect a team.»
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr stands courtside during Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center on April 26, 2023 in Sacramento, Calif. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
«Any time some trust is lost, it makes the process much more difficult, and some trust was lost. That’s about as direct as I can be. The only way to try to course correct is to continue to communicate with players and coaches. And those relationships have to be built. The ties have to be built. I think that’s a big focus for us this offseason. We’ve got to get back to what’s made us really successful, which is a really trusting environment and a group that relies on each other and makes each other better».
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Kerr said he felt the chemistry and trust hadn’t completely gone away during the season as the Warriors found a way to beat the sacramento kings in the first round, but said he was «threatened» during the year.
The Warriors now enter an offseason of great uncertainty as the end of the «Core Three» approaches sooner rather than later.
Green has a player option for the 2023-24 season and can become a free agent if he chooses to decline it.
Draymond Green, #23, and Jordan Poole, #3 of the Golden State Warriors walk to the dugout during the second half of an NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Center on October 25, 2022 in Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Warriors 134-105. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
General manager Bob Myers, the man largely credited with building the roster he has won four championships In nine seasons, he has made it clear that he is undecided about his future with his contract expiring at the end of June.
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Kerr will also be heading into the final season of his contract, though he made it clear Tuesday that he wants to continue coaching the Warriors.
«Our organization has a lot to figure out this summer and my contract situation is not, and should not be, at the top of the list,» Kerr said when asked about a contract extension. «Right now, Bob’s contract situation is number one because it influences a lot of the decisions that have to be made by the players.
«I love what I do and I hope to be training here for a long time, but you never know how things work out,» he added. «Then, we’ll see.»