Photo from the New York Post.
By Terrance Turner
Oct. 5, 2022 (updated Oct. 7)
Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green is now facing potential discipline after fighting his own teammate in practice today. Green got into a physical altercation with teammate Jordan Poole. “Green and Poole came chest-to-chest, with both players pushing and shoving each other prior to Green’s escalation,” writes The Athletic’s Shams Charania. “When a heated interaction with guard Jordan Poole escalated, Green forcefully struck Poole.”
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was more blunt: “Golden State Warriors‘ All-Star Draymond Green threw a punch at teammate Jordan Poole at practice on Wednesday, sources told ESPN. The two players had been verbally sparring prior to some pushing, which escalated when Green took a swing and made contact with Poole, sources said. Team officials are reviewing the episode.”
But Poole wasn’t hurt by the swing and was able to complete his workout, ESPN reported.
UPDATE (Oct. 7, 12:47 pm): TMZ SPORTS has obtained video of the altercation. Green can be seen approaching Poole while the two exchange words. Poole pushes Green, who then throws a punch at Poole and has to be pulled off of him:
Green apologized to the team Thursday morning, according to Axios. He is expected to face internal discipline by the team. Warriors general manager Bob Myers said he didn’t anticipate Green being suspended. “These things happen. Nobody likes it, we don’t condone it, but it happens,” Myers said. “Draymond apologized to the team. Jordan was there in the room. … As far as any suspension, punishment, fine, we will handle that internally.”
Initially, Yahoo! Sports reporter Chris Haynes claimed that tension had been building leading up to the altercation. Haynes said that teammates had noticed “a change in behavior” by Poole during camp. Warriors star Stephen Curry disputed that in a press conference yesterday: “JP’s been great. There’s nothing that warranted the situation yesterday. I want to make that clear. It’s also something we feel like won’t derail our season and that’s with Draymond a part of that.”
Poole and Green reportedly have a history of verbal arguments. But Poole is far from the only teammate Green has clashed with. In fact, Green has a history of scuffling with opponents and teammates alike. In last season’s game against the Denver Nuggets, Green threw a ball right at teammate Klay Thompson’s head:
History
In 2018, during Game 1 of the Finals, Green got into a war of words with Cleveland Cavaliers player Tristan Thompson. After getting a technical foul and being ejected, Thompson confronted Green. Whatever they were saying escalated to the point where Thompson shoved the ball at Green and threw a punch:
In 2017, Green got tangled up with Wizards player Bradley Beal:
And in 2016, Green got a flagrant foul after kicking between the legs of Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams:
Also in 2016, Draymond Green and LeBron James had to be separated after scuffling in Game 4 of the NBA Finals:
Green later picked up a flagrant foul after hitting LeBron James in the groin during the fourth quarter. Green was suspended for one game, so he sat out Game 5. Green was fined $129,000, per Bobby Marks of The Vertical.
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