Warriors move Draymond Green to bench in telling lineup shakeup
This could be the start of a new era for Draymond Green.
He came off the bench for the Warriors’ loss to the Timberwolves on Friday night, with head coach Steve Kerr instead inserting Jonathan Kuminga into the starting lineup.
Since 2014-15, Green was not in the starting lineup just five times before Friday.
But with the Warriors struggling, Kerr wanted to give “a look” at a new configuration, which meant the longtime team icon saw his role relegated.
“Of course, I’m OK with it,” Green said. “I have been one of [Kuminga’s] biggest fans since he’s been here. And so if he has an opportunity to start, you can’t be hypocritical, and [if] they’re like we want him to start, but it’ll be [up to] you, you can’t be like ‘ah, it’s not for me, that don’t work.’ I want to see him do well.
“So if his opportunity goes through me, then it is what it is. He earned the opportunity. He played extremely well [Thursday]. You want to give that another look or two or three or four or however long. If it works, then you continue with it.”
Green played 26 minutes in the loss and recorded 10 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block.
Kuminga, meanwhile, played 29 minutes and recorded 13 points, two rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block.
He is averaging 14.8 points per game and 4.8 rebounds.
For the season, the 34-year-old Green is averaging 8.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 block per game.
“I don’t necessarily look at it as like this demotion,” Green said. “I’m a starter in the NBA. I know that. But if it’s something to try to help this team win, I’m always going to be for it. I hate losing.
“I care about this organization, and I know a lot of people in this organization, including myself, think he’s next. And so if he’s next, at some point we got to see it.”