While he was very apologetic for his actions last year, new comments from Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green give the impression that Jordan Poole had it coming when he was on the bad end of a now-infamous practice punch from his former teammate.
The Golden State Warriors 2022-2023 campaign to defend their championship was a major disappointment. While they were able to circle the wagons late in the season and reached the semifinals of the NBA playoffs, the league’s current dynasty team was never able to recapture their elite form of the previous season.
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They had issues on the road, their defense and chemistry were poor at times, Andrew Wiggins dealt with off-the-court issues, and injuries hampered superstar Stephen Curry at different points during the season. However, many believe their problems last year all started when Draymond Green shockingly punched teammate Jordan Poole during a practice in the lead-up to the season.
While the Golden State Warriors great has always been known for his fiery personality, it was still a stunning moment that created an obvious issue in the locker room. Green was suspended for the strike and was remorseful for the decision, especially as a team leader. However, with Poole now a member of the Washington Wizards, it seems that the team legend is a little less sorry about punching the talented guard last year.
Golden State Warriors Draymond Green on Jordan Poole punch: ‘I just don’t hit people’
During an appearance on Patrick Beverley’s podcast this week, Draymond Green spoke about the infamous moment, and it seems that it was not an isolated incident and there might have been a result of building issues that hit a tipping point that day.
“I just don’t hit people. Dialogue of course happens over time and you usually ain’t just triggered by something that fast [and] that degree. This is a team. Ain’t nobody on my team is triggering me in an instant. We know stuff that you don’t say amongst men. You know what I’m saying? We know things that you have to stand on. I just don’t hit people.”
– Draymond Green
There were rumors and reports after the dustup that suggested a similar idea of Poole having built a frustrating reputation for how he spoke to teammates and that the Golden State Warriors forward had enough and snapped last summer.