Warriors coach Steve Kerr and reserve big man Jordan Bell engaged in a brief argument during the team’s game against the Lakers on Monday, with both figures visibly upset and Kerr eventually walking away.
The dispute occurred during a timeout with 5:14 left in the fourth, with Bell playing the final seven minutes of the team’s blowout victory.
“It was a total misinterpretation of something I said,” Kerr said, as relayed by Monte Poole of NBC Sports, “and we cleared it up.”
Bell has seen his minutes decrease from 14.2 to 10.9 per game this season, with the 24-year-old currently in his second campaign with Golden State. The return of DeMarcus Cousins is only going to complicate his role further, as most of the back-up center minutes are set for Kevon Looney.
“We’re all gonna go through times throughout the NBA when we want to speak our minds and vent, and we might be frustrated over some things,” teammate Kevin Durant said when discussing Bell. “Coach has been so open in letting guys get that out but also challenging guys as well. It’s a healthy dialogue, and it’s just a healthy relationship between us and Coach. He lets us know what he sees out there and if you have something to say to him back, he’s not going to be afraid to go back at you.
“I think Jordan understands that, at this point, we just want to continue to keep getting better. Coach will always – especially the younger guys in the league – definitely be on them a little bit more because he expects a lot out of them. He sees the potential in him. On Jordan’s side, we just want him to keep playing. That stuff happens, so we’ll move on.”
The Warriors have the option to offer Bell a $1.8MM qualifying offer prior to free agency this summer.
There’s more from the Pacific Division tonight:
- Suns guard Devin Booker was fined $25K for escalating an on-court altercation by pushing Wolves center Gorgui Dieng on Wednesday, the NBA announced. Both Booker and Dieng were ejected following the scuffle.
- The talent and leadership of LeBron James may not be enough for the Lakers to make the playoffs this season, Bill Oram of The Athletic cautions. James signed a four-year, $154MM contract to join the Lakers in free agency last summer, immediately changing the direction of the franchise to compete this season. He’s missed the past 14 games due to a groin injury, however, watching his team slip to the ninth-best record in the West (25-23) from afar. “No one here is just counting on LeBron carrying all the weight and taking us there,” coach Luke Walton said. “We know the only way to get there is to work. And for everyone to step up and make plays.”
- Suns forward T.J. Warren is expected to miss two to three weeks after sustaining a bone bruise in his left ankle, tweets Gina Mizell of The Athletic. Warren’s timetable means he’ll likely return around the All-Star break in mid-February, with second-year player Josh Jackson set to get additional minutes in his place. Warren has averaged 18 points and four rebounds per game this season, shooting 49% from the floor and a career-high 43% from behind-the-arc.
kawhi recently dropped 13M on a house in san diego, hard to imagine he’d join the lakers. toronto fans having buyers remorse in 3, 2, 1
Lots of players have offseason homes. I wouldn’t read too much into it
so he can stay there 3 months out of the year makes a bunch of sense
Also, he played college ball there so he might just love the city. Can you blame him? San Diego is the best!
hell i got family in san diego, but 13M isn’t a part time home
Kawhi also bought a house in Toronto ….however I’m also a Bulls fan who lives in Canada that said I think Kawhi leaves at seasons end unless they win a ring.
I’m guessing Kawhi doesn’t want to play with Lebron, then again neither does anyone else in the league. So I’ll say the Lakers are out ….That would leave the Clippers, Kings and Suns. I mention those teams because they’re close via flights from SD.
I’m gong to go out on a limb and say Kawhi is a Sun next year. It’s no secret the Suns GM badly wanted Kawhi last year but wouldn’t part with the #1 pick and although the Raptors can offer supermax the Suns could max offer Kawhi or give him max money on a season by season basis.
The Suns would be very good with Ayton, Booker, Bridges, Kawhi plus still have the cash to bring in another top player. Not to mention the bench automatically becomes deeper with 2 adds.
So as crazy as it sounds Kawhi to the Suns and PHX goes from worst to 1st!!!
suns would be a great fit + tax exemptions. i don’t see him there, clippers seem like his next stop
All wrong. Such as, drive SD-PHX for a commute? Why? It’s an offseason home/investment that he bought.
I would be more concerned if Claw bought his place in Beverly Hills or another good suburb of LA than San Diego. Honestly, who wouldn’t want a place in SD, and his previous ties there add to why he’s there.
As for where he ends up, I don’t see Phoenix at all, though stranger things have happened. There is still a good chance he leaves Toronto, but I think the Raptors are gaining ground on convincing him to stay. He’s been very happy with the way the training staff has managed him this year, and unlike earlier in the year, he now travels with the team and sits on the bench during DNP’s. A run to the finals, or another big acquisition by the Raps and it wouldn’t surprise me if he stayed.
Jordan bell should shut his mouth and thank god the bulls didn’t draft him. He is a 6’7 center with no skill set and would of been behind felicio.