Another instalment in the ever-evolving relationship between Kevin Durant and Draymond Green has been revealed.
Green’s suspension from the league for hitting Suns center Jusuf Nurkic has been lifted after a 12-game ban.
At the time of the incident, Durant said that he hoped Green would get “the help that he needs” and confirmed that his former Warriors teammate was not “that way when I was around him.”
Green spoke publicly for the first time since his suspension this week, and along with a range of other topics, addressed Durant’s comments.
The four-time champion said he was initially “pissed” about Durant’s remarks, but later reflected and changed his perspective.
Durant has since insisted that he didn’t mean to offend Draymond with what he said.
“I’m glad he’s back. I’m glad he can move past that. Draymond is an incredible teammate.” Durant told reporters on Monday. “He got his times where he loses temper, but everybody has those times and I’m sure they all [are] happy to have him back. But I didn’t mean no ill will by what I said. I know some people look at me as this malicious snake, passive-aggressive. I know how people feel about me sometimes, so when I say sh**, I don’t mean no harm by nobody. I don’t mean to disrespect him or his family if he felt that way. I’m just glad he’s back on the court.”
KD also went on to explain that fans could have misunderstood his comments about Draymond and clarified what he meant.
“You got to look at it from my perspective, like before I had made those comments, [people were] saying Draymond’s going to therapy and sh**,” Durant said. “Like what am I supposed to think? They say somebody going to therapy, I’m hoping he gets better from that, and hope he learned from whatever he feels like he needs to learn from going to therapy.”