Two superstar players on the same team aren’t the best of friends. Stop me if you’ve heard this before. One prime example, Michael Jordan and none other than Dennis Rodman. Rodman admitted that he never had a conversation in his three year stint in Chicago with Michael Jordan nor Scottie Pippen, but the team still went on to win multiple championships. The Bulls’ Big Three only spoke on the court and clearly that worked out well. Similarly, the Golden State Warriors who just saw two of its players almost come to blows will be fine. This team is just too talented and too good at winning to not be able to bounce back from a small bump in the road.
Is it really that hard that someone on the Warriors would have a problem with Draymond? The things that fans call Green out for on Twitter are the same things that have helped this team become a dynasty. Those antics are meant to annoy and take players out of their game. Yes, he always walks a fine line of dirty plays, but then fans also complain that the league is soft. Remember when Green used to “annoy” Durant when he was on the Thunder? Are we surprised that the guy who felt it was necessary to create burner accounts defending himself got annoyed with Green and his very vocal leadership?
This fighting is not a new story. Last season after the team won yet another championship it was revealed that the time had locker room issues that they dealt with internally.
David West let the world know after the team won the 2018 NBA Championship telling reporters, “We just worked. Different guys throughout the year carried the load and helped us. There were some things internally. When you guys find out about that s—, you’ll trip. You’ll trip. It’s a testament to the type of people these guys are, how tied we were as a group and then we were able to win it.”
If they could get past whatever mysterious problems went on last season, it seems possible that they can right the ship before problems get too deep. It appears those issues might be very similar to what took place a few nights ago because it’s not the first time the two competitors got into a heated exchange during a game. To be fair the pair have also been spotted getting along just fine.
These two were just sitting next to each other dancing to the now viral remix of Fergie’s live rendition of the national anthem after a win at Madison Square Garden. This was after Fergie’s ex-husband called Green not a “real man” after the camera showed him holding back laughter while Fergie sang the anthem at the 2018 All-Star Game.
Let’s talk worst case scenario, Durant does decide to walk in free agency. This is still the same core that went 73-9 just a few seasons ago, and they might be able to get DeMarcus Cousins to stay long term. Curry, Thompson and Green alone are a better trio than more than half of the teams in the NBA. We still have yet to see this lineup at full strength with Cousins still being sidelined and this team still has the best record in the West. Quinn Cook has proved to be a nice backup for Curry who is currently sidelined. Their bench could definitely improve, however if Durant does decide to leave the team could just grab another star forward (Kawhi in the Bay?).
Do you get along with everyone at your job? Probably not, but for the better good you learn to work with people with different personality types. NBA teams are no different, but winning cures everything. As long as they continue winning they will be able to manage all of the different personalities in the locker room. Steve Kerr seems to have a great handle on his team and how to control all of the different emotions. If and this is a big if because it is so unlikely they will, but if they ever face a major losing streak, things could get uglier.
Tonight will be a big test against the Houston Rockets who have their own struggles this season. Green will be back in the lineup and if the team can put their differences aside for 48 minutes and play solid basketball this will blow over. The team announced that Steph Curry will be out tonight so it will be on Durant to step up and lead. In a good sign that the beef has been squashed, Warriors reporter Kerith Burke shared a photo of the pair walking into shoot around together.
