MEMPHIS — Kevin Durant got a late, unnecessary technical foul on Thursday night in Salt Lake City. He was seething after a hot-tempered back-and-forth with referee Monty McCutchen.

So Draymond Green walked over to Durant and, it seemed, calmed him with a joke. The two had a hearty laugh. The final nine seconds eventually ticked off. The Warriors won.

About 15 minutes later, Green emerged for his postgame presser. Durant had already called his technical ‘stupid.’ What did Green say to cool him down? Something about the overzealous officiating?

No. Something about Jazz coach Quin Snyder.

“We were laughing that Quin Snyder kept calling timeouts,” Green said. “Like, bro, you’re down 10 with six seconds left. It’s kind of over, my man. Let’s just go to the restaurant, have a good dinner and just chill.” Related Articles Steve Kerr says Breonna Taylor ruling is ‘demoralizing’ as Warriors open minicamp

Warriors at No. 2: Breaking down how LaMelo Ball’s passing genius would fit Golden State

Here’s the Warriors’ minicamp roster and where each player stands

Giannis Antetokounmpo wins second MVP award; Is an NBA title with Warriors next?

Warriors begin minicamp next week, Curry and Green unlikely to participate

The comment made headlines. Many wondered: Why would Green so publicly joke about a young coach so many around the league respect?

The answer came two days later and, within it, provided the latest, greatest example of the lengths to which Green will go to excavate slights and produce motivation.

In the Clippers game on Wednesday night, while the rest of his teammates struggled from deep, Green made three of his five 3s. After a prolonged slump, he’d found his shot, he said, because of some useful tips from assistant Ron Adams.

Before the Jazz game on Thursday night, Quin Snyder was asked about defending the pick-your-poison Warriors offense. Within his answer, Snyder apparently made a comment about letting Draymond Green shoot because, of all the deadly options — which include three of the best shooters of all-time — it seemed the safest.

That’s a defensive ploy many teams use. The comments didn’t make waves. They weren’t inflammatory. No one even knew about it until, two days later, Kevin Durant was asked an innocuous question about how dangerous the Warriors become when Green hits 3s.

“A lot of teams want to give him that,” Durant said. “Last game, Coach Snyder said something like if he’s shooting it, they’ll win the game. I don’t know. I heard that. I don’t know if it’s true.”

Let me guess: You heard it from Draymond?

“Yeah, I heard it from Draymond,” Durant laughed sheepishly.

So how did it make it on to Green’s radar? Was he just scouring the web, searching his name on Twitter, visiting Jazz.com to unearth any type of potential pregame slight?

“My mom text them to me,” Green said. Related Articles Warriors Star Draymond Green scores $9.6 million Southern California mansion

Draymond Green makes his debut as CNN contributor

Credit his mother with the assist. Against the Jazz, Green made four huge 3s on six attempts, tongue-out celebrating the final two.

“I’m really not the right guy to talk junk to. You kind of wake somebody up. You live and you learn. Maybe he learned. Or maybe he’ll try it again. But I’m really not the right person to do that against.”

Wherever he can find it — no matter how innocent the comment or concocted the insult — it’s typically a good thing for the Warriors if Green gets riled up.

VIDEO FORM

The original Draymond Green quote…

Draymond Green on his late laugh with KD:"We was laughing that Quin Snyder kept calling timeouts. Like bro, you down 10 with 6 seconds left" pic.twitter.com/U4rOqFjKIz — Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 9, 2016

The Durant accidental reveal…

Kevin Durant said he heard about the pregame let Draymond shoot quotes. From where? "Draymond" pic.twitter.com/77v13rLpnU — Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 10, 2016

Green’s answer