Recently making an appearance on Shaq’s The Big Podcast, Draymond Green got candid about the time he was suspended indefinitely for hitting Jusuf Nurkic. During that time, he was struck by a brutal realization about the people who were actually on his side and those who were pretenders. Green revealed his frustration at Stephen A. Smith for not defending him as a pal when the world was trying to villainize him. But as it turns out, the Warrior has had a slight change of heart in the past few days, which he publicly admitted to on Inside the NBA tonight.

Realizing what he said and how it was perceived might have been wrong, Dray issued a public apology to Stephen A. “The way I meant for it to come out it didn’t, so I was wrong for that. I do apologize.” After which, one of the panelists spontaneously replied, “That is cool, man,” and there were chuckles all around. While he did feel a little betrayed by the ESPN vet, how he expressed his frustration to Big Diesel might have been a little too harsh.

“Stephen A. Smith really pissed me off.” Draymond had said on the podcast, revealing that when someone tries to character assassinate a person that he personally knows, DG always defends them and lets people know they are good people. However, Green claimed that Stephen A. did none of that, despite knowing him personally for years.

If not as a basketball player, he could have at least used his platform to tell the people that Green’s personal life should not be questioned because of what happened on the court. Instead, the pundit seemingly flowed with the narrative. Maybe Draymond Green changed his mind after Stephen A’s response on First Take.

Stephen A. Smith assures Draymond Green that “the love is always here”

After hearing Draymond lash out at him on Shaq’s podcast, Stephen A. responded with a detailed segment. Showing video evidence of the times he defended DG on ESPN, he claimed that he has spoken up for him countless times despite his embarrassing on-court reputation. Even during the Nurkic incident, Stephen A. reminded Green that he was the one who said that people were “going too far” when they suggested the Warrior needed help.

And when Draymond’s former teammate KD badmouthed him, Stephen A. again defended him. “I have never, ever failed to support him. And all I’m saying is if you’re going to have a problem with me, let a brother know.” Smith added.

When Draymond apologized to him tonight, the senior pundit wasted no time in accepting the apology with a heartfelt message, “Apology accepted my brother @Money23Green. The love is always here for you… I apologize as well, for anything I may have done. I’m not trying to hurt anybody.”

In a heartwarming gesture, Stephen A. Smith seems to have buried the hatchet with Draymond Green and revealed even he was apologetic for the things he said after the initial callout. Maybe the world will soon see them sharing the screen on either podcast to finally publicly close this chapter face-to-face.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow in what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato had to say about the marketing genius, watch this video.