Draymond Green is no stranger to controversy, but his tone took a different turn following the Golden State Warriors‘ Game 4 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In an uncharacteristically candid moment, Green publicly apologized for skipping his postgame media obligations after Game 3 and labeled his own actions as cowardly.
“Before we start, I want to apologize to y’all,” Green told reporters as he sat at the podium. “I didn’t talk the other day. I was quite a bit frustrated. I didn’t want to get myself fined, but more so, say something that would make it sound like an excuse. I didn’t come up here and talk, and I felt like a coward when I got home.”
The statement marked a sharp departure from the All-Star forward’s typical bravado and arrived as the Warriors found themselves in unfamiliar territory-trailing 3-1 in the series and battling for survival without Stephen Curry, who remains sidelined with a Grade 1 hamstring strain.
Warriors unravel in pivotal third quarter collapse
Green‘s emotional response stems in part from how Game 3 and Game 4 unfolded. In Game 3, Green fouled out late in the fourth quarter after a controversial whistle on Jaden McDaniels. At the time, the Warriors trailed by just two points. Without Green, the Timberwolves closed out a 102-97 victory.
His box score from that outing-two points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and five turnovers in 29 minutes-only told part of the story. His absence in the closing minutes left a hole in the Warriors‘ defense, one the Timberwolves quickly exploited.
Game 4 offered a glimmer of hope. Golden State went into halftime with a slim two-point lead, but things fell apart immediately afterward. Minnesota dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Warriors 39-17-Golden State’s worst third-quarter showing at home in playoff history.
Anthony Edwards dropped 30 points in the game, 16 of which came during that third-quarter run. Julius Randle added 31, and Jaden McDaniels contributed a double-double with 10 points and 13 boards. The Warriors had few answers.
Without Curry‘s presence on the floor, Jonathan Kuminga led Golden State with 23 points, and Jimmy Butler III added 14. But the team struggled mightily from beyond the arc, hitting just 29.6% of their threes (8-of-27) and coughing up 16 turnovers that Minnesota turned into points.
Green‘s postgame comments underscored the weight he feels as a veteran leader. His accountability, while uncommon in today’s NBA climate, was a significant gesture-especially considering the Warriors‘ backs are now against the wall.
With Game 5 set for Wednesday at Target Center, the Warriors must regroup quickly. Curry‘s availability remains unclear, meaning Green and the rest of the team will need to rise to the occasion or face an early postseason exit.
If there’s a silver lining, it may be Green‘s recommitment to leadership-not just on the court, but off it. His willingness to own his missteps could be the spark Golden State needs to rally in what now feels like a last stand for a fading dynasty.
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