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Shocking video has emerged of the moment Draymond Green sucker punches his Golden State Warriors teammate Jordan Poole during a recent practice.
Although Green’s attack on Poole was revealed earlier this week, footage of the incident did not surface until Friday, when it was obtained by TMZ.
The team has already announced that Green will not be suspended, and any punishment would be handled internally.
The clip shows Green exchanging words with Poole along the baseline before bumping chests with the smaller guard, who attempts to gently push the veteran forward out of the way as concerned teammates and coaches begin to take notice.
It’s then that the 6-foot-6 Green, 32, lunges at the 6-foot-4 Poole, 23, with a right hand to the face.
The clip shows Green exchanging words with Poole along the baseline, before bumping chests with the smaller guard, who attempts to gently push the veteran forward out of the way as concerned teammates and coaches began to take notice
Draymond Green is seen sucker punching Golden State Warriors teammate Jordan Poole during a recent practice, as captured in video obtained by TMZ
Draymond Green and Jordan Poole (right) won a title together last June against the Celtics
Some onlookers stepped in while others, including reigning NBA Finals MVP Stephen Curry, stood by and simply watched the skirmish unfold. Ultimately a throng of six or so bystanders were able to separate the pair.
Poole reportedly finished practice, so he apparently was uninjured.
Warriors general manager Bob Myers acknowledged the incident later, saying ‘these things happen.
‘Nobody likes it,’ Myers told reporters. ‘We don’t condone it, but it happens.
‘Draymond apologized to the team. Jordan was there in the room,’ Myers continued. ‘As far as any suspension, punishment, fine, we will handle that internally.’
The cause of the fight remains somewhat of a mystery.
One report claimed teammates were upset that Poole had been talking incessantly about building a pool on his property and the banter ultimately got to Green, but Curry has since called that theory ‘absolute BS.’
Draymond Green sits on the bench with head coach Steve Kerr and general manager Bob Myers during a Golden State Warriors practice at Oracle Arena in Oakland back in 2019
Myers, speaking with reporters, did not have a specific answer to offer.
‘That question was asked: ”Was this something beyond the line that was said?”’ Myers said. ‘The answer I heard was, ”No, it was not different than normal bickering within a scrimmage.”’
Both Green and Poole are eligible for lucrative contract extensions from the cash-strapped Warriors, who are trying to reduce an already skyrocketing luxury tax bill. Last season, en route to their fourth title in the last eight seasons, the Warriors racked up an NBA-record $170.3 million in luxury taxes on top of their league-high $184 million roster payroll.
In theory, Green and Poole are competing for whatever money the team is willing to spend going forward.
Various internet reports have claimed that Poole’s ego has grown as he’s approached a new contract extension, perhaps contributing to the friction with Green, but head coach Steve Kerr seemed to dismiss that on Thursday.
‘The only thing I will say is Jordan [Poole’s attitude] has been fantastic throughout camp,’ Kerr told reporters.
Myers said the incident has not impacted negotiations with Poole.
One, seemingly light-hearted, suggestion was made by Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young, who suggested that Green is trying to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers or Clippers, although it seems unlikely that Golden State would trade him within their own division.
‘Draymond is tryna get to LA,’ Young tweeted. ‘Damn!’
One, seemingly light-hearted, suggestion was made by Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young, who suggested that Green is trying to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers or Clippers, although it seems unlikely that Golden State would trade him within their own division
Players and coaches have had run-ins with Green, including Kerr (right). During a 2019 game, Kerr appeared to say ‘I’m so f***ing tired of Dramond’s s***,’ to an assistant. Given the chance to clarify what he had said, Kerr downplayed the incident with a joke. ‘No, the lip-readers were wrong,’ he told reporters. ‘What I said was, ”I beg to differ with Draymond’s approach tonight.” Those were my exact words. I don’t know how somebody misconstrued that’
While the Lakers or Clippers seem like an unlikely destination for Green, he could become expendable in San Francisco.
Now in his 10th season, Green has four NBA titles coming off last June’s Finals victory over Boston. The problem is he has occasionally bumped heads with teammates, such as an infamous on-court spat with Kevin Durant in 2017, and even Kerr has been caught complaining about the former Defensive Player of the Year.
During a 2019 game, Kerr appeared to say ‘I’m so f***ing tired of Dramond’s s***,’ to a member of his staff.
Given the chance to clarify what he had said, Kerr downplayed the incident with a joke.
‘No, the lip-readers were wrong,’ he told reporters. ‘What I said was, ”I beg to differ with Draymond’s approach tonight.” Those were my exact words. I don’t know how somebody misconstrued that.’
Kerr did admit that he and Green had a private conversation about the matter afterwards.
Green certainly has a reputation as a puncher, and has been caught swinging at opponents’ genitals on several occasions, including once in the 2016 NBA Finals when he punched LeBron James’ groin. Green was ultimately suspended for the following game.
‘Jordan Poole got caught sleeping because he didn’t think Draymond would punch a guy above the waist,’ former Slam reporter Ryan Jones joked on Twitter.
Green certainly has a reputation as a puncher, and has been caught swinging at opponents’ genitals on several occasions, including once in the 2016 NBA Finals when he punched LeBron James’ groin. Green was ultimately suspended for the following game
On Thursday, Myers defended Green by saying that he has made amends in the past whenever he’s crossed a boundary.
‘He will tell you he has been over that line but he always comes back,’ Myers said. ‘Nobody is saying they don’t want him around … but [Wednesday] was not a good moment. … I don’t think he likes putting himself in these spots. He is in one, but I think he’ll find a way to earn the respect of his teammates and Jordan back.’
While Green may not be suspended, there could be league-wide fallout after video of the incident was leaked.
Former NBA executive and current Athletic contributor, John Hollinger, joked that teams aren’t going to make the same mistake that the Warriors did by recording the punch.
‘That noise you just heard?’ Hollinger tweeted. ‘That was every team that has automatic practice court cameras in their facility sending out an alert for an urgent mandatory staff meeting.’
Former NBA executive and current Athletic contributor, John Hollinger, joked that teams aren’t going to make the same mistake that the Warriors did by recording the punch
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