Warriors' Draymond Green reacts to Team USA exclusion

National team managing director Grant Hill explained last week that while the four-time All-Star's "contributions have been significant" to Team USA in the past, the decision was made to keep him out of the field "in lieu of what's transpired this year."

"I wish that [Grant Hill] would have just said that to me. You know especially if you're going to say that publicly," Green said on "The Draymond Green Show" on Monday. "So it hurt me a little bit from a fan standpoint as well. I'm a big fan of Grant Hill, and to know there’s been a personal relationship and to tell me to my face that you're going to need me for the Olympics and then to publicly find out that."

The two-time Olympic gold medalist has been suspended multiple times in the last year, including an indefinite suspension after striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic during a December contest. Green ended up missing 12 games before being reinstated and four more during his ramp-up to return to action.

He was in counseling sessions during his suspension and those are expected to continue.

Green said in early January that that during his recent time away from the game he considered retiring, but after a "long, great conversation" with Adam Silver, the commissioner talked him out of it.

When discussing Hill's decision on Monday, the 33-year-old added "If I'm not good enough for that roster, just say I'm not good enough." Green also said he would've liked the opportunity to win a third gold medal, after helping the Americans capture first place at both the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and the 2021 event in Tokyo.

"I'll say this, disappointed? Yeah, of course, like, to have an opportunity to play in three Olympics," he said.

Green is one of only four active NBA players with multiple Olympic gold medals, joining Warriors teammate Chris Paul, Kevin Durant of the Suns and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers (all of whom are among the 41 finalists this year).

According to a report by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, there are 26 current players in the league with a gold medal and the Michigan State product is one of 13 who didn't make the initial list of invitees.