Steve Kerr went too far.
Either that, or the four-time NBA champion, $17.5 million-a-year Warriors head coach is trying to deflect blame from one of his star players after a shocking sideline altercation with Draymond Green.
Kerr and Green had a heated exchange during a third-quarter timeout during Monday night’s win over the Magic, and Green even left the court in the aftermath to cool off before later returning to the bench.
“Monday night was not my finest hour, and that was a time when I had to be calm in the group,” said Kerr told reporters on Wednesday. “I regret my actions in that discussion. I have apologized [Green]. He apologized to me. We both apologized to the team.
“These things happen, especially when you have two incredibly competitive people like Dray and I. So in the 12 years we’ve been together, this has happened off and on, and I’m not proud of it.”
On the other hand, the charismatic, borderline professor Kerr is the same guy who got into an exhibition fight with Michael Jordan during his playing days with the Bulls.
“We are a lot more alike than anyone would ever realize,” Kerr said of Green, the serial winner and technical foul magnet. “So yeah, this isn’t completely unusual. I would say this hasn’t happened in a few years, this kind of division and blowout, but in our twelve years together it’s not the first time. And we’ve always, always found a way to not only bounce back, but to make strides as a result.”
Moves are needed now that the Warriors are 15-15, in Play-In position in the Western Conference, heading into Thursday’s nationally televised Christmas game against the visiting Mavericks.
Meanwhile, another season of the Kerr-Draymond-Steph Curry connection is ticking away, and Kerr has made a habit of taking the blame.
“We have to find a way to connect the game. That’s my job. I’m not doing a good job this year,” Kerr said after a Dec. 14 loss to the Trail Blazers. “We have enough talent to be much better. We’re losing all these close games, so I have to find a way to help these guys.”
The 60-year-old Kerr is likely in the final season of his contract with the Warriors. In eleven and a half seasons he has four titles, six finals appearances and a winning percentage of .643.
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