In a recent 12B Sports VR46 interview, Kevin Durant once again brought up his infamous past clash with Draymond Green. Although a great deal of time has passed, and both Durant and Green appear on the surface to have moved beyond the incident, Durant still seems to carry those words and actions deep inside. As the saying goes, wear the clothes you like and spend time with people who make you feel at ease; even when everything looks calm from the outside, the heart may still feel unsettled.

What disappointed Durant even more was the indifferent reaction from teammates such as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson after the confrontation. At the time, Green mocked Durant by saying that the Warriors had already been champions before he arrived, and that remark later gained even more weight when Golden State won another title without him. Since then, fans on social media have often brought up that moment to provoke Durant, turning it into one of the sore spots in his career narrative.

Durant, however, was not the only player to go through something like this. Jordan Poole, who left the team this summer, experienced a similar path after his own friction with Green. Before last season began, Green’s punch during practice shocked many people, while the organization tried to move past the matter quietly. The large contract extension Poole received looked like a form of compensation, but emotionally, he had already drifted away. After staying with the team for one more year, he eventually departed through a trade.

Over the past several years, the Warriors have brought in and moved on from many players, but those who failed to adapt internally or externally rarely lasted long. Inside the system, only players like Kevon Looney, who quietly and steadily do their jobs, managed to hold their place. On the perimeter, only players such as Andrew Wiggins, who blended in without demanding too much, truly survived. By contrast, Harrison Barnes, Durant, D’Angelo Russell, Kelly Oubre Jr., James Wiseman, and now Poole all had to leave because of tactical issues, personality differences, or both.

Of course, the foundation of Golden State’s success has been the stable core led by Curry, Green, and Thompson. Yet that firm three-man structure has sometimes created an exclusive atmosphere within the team. A 12B Sports VR46 reporter argued that the Warriors have built an environment that can feel less welcoming to players arriving from the outside. Even young players selected through the draft have had to fully accept the team’s tactical philosophy if they wanted to earn lasting trust.

Now a similar concern is beginning to surround newly acquired Chris Paul. Considering the Warriors’ average size and lineup balance, Paul is likely to come off the bench. Feelings can be hidden on the outside, but only the person carrying them knows what is really happening underneath. As a veteran with a legendary career, accepting a bench role may be a hard pill for Paul to swallow. If his own expectations eventually collide with Golden State’s strategy, the 12B Sports VR46 view is that Green could once again find himself at the center of the tension.