Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr thinks the notion that, with the addition of superstar Kevin Durant this summer, his squad reached villain status is simply ludicrous.
Kerr maintains that KD remains one of the NBA’s most beloved personalities.
Steve Kerr tells @MichelleDBeadle and I on @espnradio he is not down with Kevin Durant being labeled as a villain. https://t.co/WZbwIEgCxc
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) August 8, 2016
Kerr also downplayed Draymond Green’s numerous incidents this offseason.
Per ESPN:
“To think of Kevin Durant or Steph Curry or any of our guys as villains, it’s kind of absurd. Especially Kevin,” Kerr said Sunday. “This is one of the most likeable people in this league. He’s just an awesome human being. What he did in Oklahoma City was just amazing for that community.
Kerr added: “Circumstances kind of dictate, I guess, that some people are going to see him as a villain. But it’s only because he decided to go elsewhere to play. He wanted to change his scenery, he wanted a new challenge. More than anything he wanted to play with our guys. He loves Draymond [Green] and Steph and Klay [Thompson] and Andre [Iguodala]. Seeing those guys in New York, he loved seeing the chemistry that exists and he wanted to be a part of it.”
“With Draymond he’s obviously the one guy that sort of walks the line, tows the line, he’s had some issues during the season, whether it’s being demonstrative on the floor or the locker room or whatever, or getting suspended,” Kerr said Sunday. “But the thing with Draymond, and I learned this from [Michigan State coach] Tom Izzo … He said ‘Draymond is going to make you pull your hair out sometimes, but he’s such a great guy and a team guy and he’s got such a huge heart that he’s always going to come back around.’ He said, ‘The big thing with Draymond is challenge him and be up front with him. Don’t be afraid to yell at him.’ That’s the way we’ve kind of approached it. Draymond and I, we’ve gotten into it many times … but there’s never any lingering ill will. Bob and I try to keep the momentum going. Every once in a while there’s a hiccup and we address it … but he always gets back on track.” […] As for the lewd photo on Snapchat, Kerr made light of Green’s statement at the time by joking, “All I know is I’m one click away from making a horrible mistake, I know that. That’s what I learned from Draymond’s mistake. We’re all one click away.”
