A video clip of Wednesday’s altercation between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole at a Warriors practice has been obtained by TMZ Sports.
The incident begins with trash talk between the two players, which leads Green to walk over to Poole and confront him. Poole shoves Green in the chest to push him away, and Green responds with a punch to the face that knocks Poole to the ground. He then stands over Poole before teammates and coaches break them up.
General manager Bob Myers said Thursday that he doesn’t expect Green to be suspended for the punch, although sources tell Anthony Slater of The Athletic that a suspension was discussed. A fine appears likely, and Slater points out that $50K is the maximum permitted under NBA rules. The league hasn’t announced any disciplinary action against Green, though that could change with the release of the video.
The Warriors won’t practice today, as the team hopes a day off will help defuse the situation, Slater adds. Green is expected to return to practice Saturday in preparation for Sunday’s game against the Lakers. It hasn’t been determined if he will meet with the media following that practice.
Several members of the organization addressed the fight on Thursday, including Stephen Curry, who shot down rumors that Poole came to camp with a sense of entitlement after a breakout season.
“JP’s (attitude has) been great,” Curry said. “There’s nothing that warranted the situation yesterday. I want to make that clear. It’s also something we feel like will not derail our season and what we’re trying to build. That’s with Draymond a part of that.”
Coach Steve Kerr echoed those sentiments about Poole, although Slater states that he was clearly upset over the fight and the fact that it become public. Golden State began the preseason with a trip to Tokyo, and Kerr didn’t want another distraction to deal with.
Hanging over the altercation are the contract situations for Green and Poole, who are both eligible for extensions. At 23, Poole could be a valuable part of Golden State’s future, and Slater hears that he’s willing to accept a long-term offer to stay with the organization. Myers addressed that possibility on Thursday, saying the team has been talking to Poole’s representatives about reaching a deal before the October 17 deadline and “(the incident) doesn’t change our feelings on it.”
Green, 32, has a $27.6MM player option for 2023/24, but he could decide to test the free agent market next summer. He has four championship rings and has been an important part of the Warriors’ success, but he has stated publicly that he doesn’t expect the team to give him an extension this fall.
Grown men do not punch other grown men at work.
Super weak response out of the organization.
NBA should suspend him for half the season and media should drop him from working games. Completely unacceptable.
Apologizing for assault doesn’t change the fact that you assaulted a teammate.
I wonder if Poole pressing charges will hinder Draymond’s future contract with GSW? lmao prob not, “Its Steph’s team now” – Kerr will never not be a coward lmao
I really want to trade Draymond but he has little value
Trade Poole for Cam Johnson
Suns have to trade Crowder for a PF
It looked like he started it to, at least without the audio. Came all the way over to Poole and then bumped chests with him.
To be fair, comparing a typical job and one as competitive, physical, and full of egos as the NBA is a little bit of apples to oranges.
Moreover, a half a season suspension would have no precedent here. Remind me the last time a player punched another player during a game (after getting pushed by them) and was suspended for that much time? What makes this situation so much different? The fact that they are teammates? Yeah, that changes things a little bit but not to that degree.
That all being said, I think Draymond does deserve to be suspended. 10-20 games as another person suggested would seem to be fair. The fact that the Warriors thought they could sweep this under the rug with only a fine is not a good look.
What about when Jordan punched Kerr?
Things were a tad different back then.
Yes, more men existed.
Yay.
The question that needs to be asked is what is he going to next if he keeps getting the message that it’s okay to try to seriously injure opponents and now teammates? Where will you and your lame comments be when he seriously goes off outside the game?
Let’s be real. If a bunch of the folks who like to think they would’ve done the moral thing here were actually a decision making part of the Warriors organization, I’d bet many of them would do exactly what the Warriors did in this situation when considering the business side of things and assuming they felt things could be swept under the rug. It’s easy to be sanctimonious when discussing a hypothetical and having nothing at stake.
I’m not suggesting Draymond doesn’t deserve to be suspended to some degree. I just tend to find this sort of moral outrage to be exaggerated.
Draymond threw a single punch. Wow. Give him his suspension and move on. It’s not the end of the world as much as there is no place for that kind of behavior.
Oh, and to answer your question, if MJ was playing in today’s era and punched someone under similar circumstances, I’d bet like 2 out of 100 people would actually suspend him lol. Or, at best, give him a two-game suspension.
i was going along with u until i realized u were actually serious
What other workplace do you punch a coworker and not end up being led away in handcuffs? Different rules for the rich.
Hockey, boxing, football, baseball … I guess maybe professional sports.
It was assault, agree. But Id like to hear what Poole said to him. Before he swung.
Ofc we all would, but it probably wouldn’t make Green look any more justified.
Gotta suspend him now. Minimum half the season. If not outright release him. Or trade him for a heavily protected 2nd. Released video tanks any negotiations.
Not punishing him is a very bad look for the warriors organization right now.
Whole sequence of events was completely unnecessary by Green.
lmao you really want to break up GSW so bad, stop projecting
Not really. Getting rid of Draymond doesn’t actually make them worse. They have have a core and can easily replace Draymond with Baldwin Jr and Kuminga.
But glad to see you support violent thugs. I would expect nothing less from you.
@Jung – Yeah you like the drama of the NBA.. how about you watch some games and learn the game of basketball? Plenty of resources out there for you
Not really. NBA ruined itself with “super teams”. Grown men acting like babies demanding trades.
You certainly aren’t coach K are you coach special k? Baseball too complex for you there tball?
You seriously don’t think Draymond is more important than Curry or Thompson do you? Last couple years while they were out should have been an obvious clue to you who’s important. Maybe you need your eyes checked.
That is assault if any of us did that.
Compare that to Will Smith on Chris Rock.
Draymond needs to be suspended for half the season here. That’s a completely psychotic thing to do unless Poole bought up his wife+kids, in which case, brings it down to like, a month.
It’s only a crime if the victims wants to press charges. And a fight amongst teammates isn’t rare. We usually just don’t hear about it. Stop whining.
Yeah because that’s how the legal system works. Might not be punished, but a crime unpunished is still a crime.
“Stop whining” = let me turn this into a “you” thing, when all you did was have a take on the situation.
Bad faith commenter much? We all know why you REALLY reply guy’d me here…its because you are a magaa…
@MedicoreCardinals See the MUTE button? Hit it for me and I will do this same. You aint bringing anything of value here.
Real friends and/or teammates who have a fight don’t get the legal system involved. Come on man. Not all of us grew up on social media or in front of social media or a video game console. You never had a physical altercation with your friends? This is just drama because of the social media age we’re immersed in.
Honestly, Warriors fans deserve to not have to deal with having Wiggins, Draymond and Kerr on this team, and replacing those three with three less annoying, relentlessly-underperforming people would be so much better for our fanbases combined mental health.
You have now made 3 comments that are all over the place. One minute you called out a poster for wanting to break up the Warriors and now you are advocating for the same thing. You did a similar thing about the suspensions. Stop trying to skirt the fence. stand on something
Yes, I called a poster out because they LED with “well this HAS to break up the team” – that isnt anything I have echoed. I said Draymond needs to be suspended here, stop making up lies because you hate Im spitting truths…
Or better yet, your horrible logic here, straight up lying now, shows you need better reading comprehension skills for next time? Try coffee???
He’s a wishy washy bandwagon fan. Don’t expect much from spineless people who won’t pick a side.
Warrior fans keep throwing out the word ‘Dynasty”, but the truth is the team has lost as many big games as they have won, and and as far as I’m concerned they deserve a big asterix after last year’s championship because teams just folded after Draymond took the game beyond sport and made it about attempts to injure. Worst team ever…worse than the 80’s Detroit Pistons, but hey if you like that type of game then keep trying to justify Draymond’s violence.
What the hell did Wiggins do to warrant anyone hating him?
What kind of gaslighting is this comment? Grow up. Wiggins is the most underperforming player of our generation. He’s infuriating to watch most of the time, although he had a nice Finals while being a pure gravity merchant off Curry.
Andrew Wiggins is 5% better than Harrison Barnes, why defend this like he’s a superstar?
My guy, you were listing guys who are known bad personalities on the Warriors like Kerr and Draymond, and you included Wiggins? Why? Because he “underperforms”? Still has more rings than Tatum.
And adam Morrison has more than Wiggins. Yay.
Morrison didn’t play in the 2009 playoffs – it’s not really a valid ring (just like Chiozza’s).
Think you may have missed my point.
What a dumb example, Robert Horry has more rings than Michael Jordan, see? We all can be asinine.
Yall can simply just ignore or agree with me, I am almost always right around here anyway, you will rarely get a W when you come up against me.
Did you eat se bad crumpets? There are tons of dudes who have gone 1/1 who are bigger disappointments than Wiggins.
Steve Kerr/Michael Jordan had a similar incident and honestly I just assumed Draymond did this to a teammate every preseason. Fine him and move on.
Facts! Jordan’s blast on Kerr was equally nasty!
Agreed. But it’s so damned stupid to risk breaking your hand-or someone’s jaw-for what is essentially banter.
Watch the video, you cant hit someone like THAT my man…I agree but I thought Dray was like, slapping dudes or pushing dudes with a more general arm-extension-type move that NBA players do when they fight.
It’s now about damage control and public perception for the Warriors. Don’t see how they don’t go the suspension route now
A lot of things happened decades ago. Jordan and Kerr was nearly 30 years ago. Standards change.
While Green is clearly a jealous bully. Poole is obviously soft. You never push a man and don’t prepare to fight. That was not a sucker punch. Poole should have had his guard up the minute he pushed Green or if he was smarter should have attacked Draymond when he started walking up on him. You can’t wait to be a victim. While he appears to be afraid of Draymond or conflict in general (that’s why he pushed instead of punched), he set himself up to get dropped on the return punch by Draymond.
All that being said, Draymond needs to be suspended
That being said you don’t get right into somebody face unless you are bullying them. Green is 10 years older and should know better. He needs to act like a adult in that situation. Green now can only blame himself for the punch. Looks like Green sealed his fate in free agency because why would you want to give him a max contract.
@casor:
I disagree – why would Poole expect Draymond to completely lose it? Even dumber is your claim he should have attacked Green for approaching him.
Smh
Um, because this isn’t Draymond’s first incident? Maybe because it’s Draymond? If you don’t want the horns, don’t mess with a bull.
NBA Ok… You’re absolutely correct – this is basketball practice, not some street on the hood (or an extremely tough suburb) Ha! You’re really not expecting a teammate to suckerpunch you. Even in a actual game squirmish, you don’t even expect an opponent to swing on you like Draymond did. I can almost guarantee Poole thought he’d push Draymond, Draymond would PUSH him back, everybody would rush in almost like overreacting, then they’d all move on with the practice.
Never would you think, in basketball practice, you’d have to defend yourself as if you were out in a dark alley with some stranger approaching you.
Kudos to the Warriors for shrewdly leaking the video so that the league can take it from here – or dictate to the team the terms of fine and suspension.
Now they don’t offend Draymond by seeming as if they’re doing the punishment themselves.
A 32 year old man punching his college is completely unacceptable save in self-defense or if the other party threatened him or those close to him. Grow up Draymond.
DarkSide830 coming correct, finally a good take full of dumb ones
When did he punch his whole college?
Whoops! *colleague
Hard to tell because I can’t see the events or hear the exchanges that led to this. I do know when competitive juices get flowing and tempers escalate things like this happen. Not sure it’s as big a deal as it will be made out to be…but I’m old school
Just my opinion, but it has been seen often in sports… No matter HOW skilled and talented a player is, things like “bad attitude,” “clubhouse cancer” and punching a teammate in the face tend to override any contributions your talent can give.
If I’m the Warriors, it seems an easy choice which of the two players to keep long term.
Well, apparently that has not been the case with Draymond she he’s been known as this type of person for years so he would seem to be the exception to the rule.
Of course, as a pending free agent on the wrong side of 30 the equation has changed.
It’s an easy choice based purely on age.
The team has the talent & administration to continue competing for some time as long as Day-Day doesn’t regularly lose his s–t: he’s wandering into Boogie/Blake Griffin territory as far as internal-toxicity is concerned.
And not smart enough to realize that as he declines in skill that cliff comes in a hurry.
What’s new draymond has proven many times in the past he’s just a punk kid who never matured.
You know ball!
Poole called him a punk kid and see what happened?
He called him “triple single”
Nope
High school champ
College national champ
World champ x 4 by age 33
What have you done??
Pot meet kettle. What have you done in your sad life? Exactly I wasn’t saying my life is better I just said he never matured. Reading comprehension really that hard for you ?
With better players around him. Guy can’t hit a free throw, turns the ball over and has been exposed by players like Siakam for years. Just another Lambeer – win through intimidation. Worst player in the NBA. He’s turned me off the game.
The thing that interests me is that the video must have been provided by someone in the Warriors organization. A cynical person might surmise that the Warriors are setting the stage for letting Draymond go after this season.
My uninformed speculation is that someone who had access to the video saw the team’s pathetic public response, like the GM being unsure if they’d even fine him and also labeling ‘forcefully struck’ instead of a punch, and leaked it to TMZ. They probably also got a nice payday for the video.
I also bet that Draymond has a lot of people within the organization who don’t like him and would gladly leak a video like this.
I’d say poole had a more pathetic response.
Getting punched in the face is a ‘pathetic response’? Always the internet commenters who are the toughest guys.
To put in context, Bobby Portis broke bones in Nikola Mirotic’s face, and he got suspended 8 games. There wasn’t video obviously, but you can’t BS breaking bones in someone’s face.
Personally, I think anything less than 10 games is a bad look, but I’m not an owner/GM, so I could know nothing
The Bobby Portis/Niko Mirotic example is a perfect correlation to the Poole/Greene scrap.
However, it’s up to Golden State what they want to do. This is a veteran, championship team that has seen and been through worse. They will handle it all appropriately internally. This franchise is top-notch from top to bottom.
Poole will get paid but he will sign a team friendly 4 yr extension with player opt out. It’s a win win for both Poole and the team. This is a perfect place for Poole to continue to develop and become an All Star and win few more titles. It will set him up for couple max extensions in the future as well as lucrative endorsements. Big picture!
No way no how Poole does anything team-friendly, but yeah, GSW likely maxing him and letting Dray+Wiggins go.
Wiggins hates GSW for making him get vaxxed, no shot he wants to stay long term.
Wiggins loves Warriors for helping him to become an All Star, an NBA Champ, and complete remake of his reputation.
There will be no max for Poole. In that case, W’s mind as well wait til next offseason. 4 yrs for $100M Hope he signs for less because W’s need every $$.
Clowns in the comments are actually advocating for DGs arrest or something lol. It was a fight between teammates. NBA Champion teammates at that. Dray has always been tough on the young guys, not shocked that he felt he couldn’t let Poole jaw at him and then push him without retaliation. If you think this situation hinders the Warriors at all, you’re oblivious to the state of the NBA
Really what did this whippersnapper Poole think green was going to do when he pushed him,go watch the worst team in baseball the Oakland athletics or take a vacation to that God forsaken country England where they all have rotting teeth??
That’s a sucker punch on s coworker. That’s not what the league is about. It’s totally unacceptable.
Not a sucker punch
Pushes happens first
Poole wanted to expose Draymond for what he is. The Warriors are upset this was leaked. So the question is what else has Draymond done and why are they trying to cover it up?
Young guys think they are untouchable
They got to watch what they say
What’s worse is that it’s a sucker punch. Totally out of nowhere, incredibly violent. Love the way Green plays the game but this is really deplorable behaviour…
It’s a major distraction and a huge dilemma for W’s. Draymond is like Dennis Rodman. He has become a time bomb, bound to do something stupid. Yes, he is a sure Hall of Famer and the heart of the team, but that was a coward punch. Poole has earned his stripes and is way above rookie treatment.
That wasn’t a sucker punch. The guy pushed him first. Real life isn’t a movie, you don’t take 10 paces and put your dukes up. The minute someone starts approaching you aggressively, you better guard your grill
Exactly thanks for the reality check
AlL these arm chair virtue signalers who clearly didn’t play hoops
Also Poole knew he was egging on
Playing hoops means you can sucker punch someone?
Sucker punches happen without escalation
They were jawing
Then pushing
Poole consented as soon as he pushed
Dray Back.
Draymond has a history, in case you didn’t know. Check out the video compilations in case you need a refresher. He intimidates through violence. The Warrior organization and its fans are okay with it. I’ve played enough ball to know it is a physical sport and you expect some bruises, but not life changing injuries and Draymond has crossed that line many times, especially in last year’s playoff run. Big asterix.
Ah so it’s Poole’s fault huh?
Please show me anywhere in my comments where I said it was Poole’s fault.
Think he was talking to grizzle who had some real bad takes on this post
Draymond absolutely needs to be suspended. If the team won’t do it the league has to step in. Minimum 10 games max 20. This is a huge black eye for the league (and probably Poole)
You cannot as a grown man just punch someone unless it’s in self defense or a under some other sort of duress. Especially in the work place.
Agreed. Have to suspend for this type of incident. Definitely do not agree with those suggesting to release him or suspend him for half the season, but 10-20 games seems appropriate.
In fact, it might actually be a blessing for the Warriors since Draymond’s health has been on the decline. Less games would keep him fresher and give him a better chance at staying healthy.
Were you pleading for Paplebon to be suspended when he attacked Bryce Harper on live tv?
Yes? Who in the world has ever been in Johnathan Papelbon’s corner?
First, I think you need to look up the definition of pleading again. Second, yes.
Most Phillies fans aren’t Pap fans
A lot of race based hate here. Meanwhile Brett Favre is stealing millions from poor people and no one bats an eye.
Another false equivalency from you that is also not based in reality (your Papelbon/Harper comparison above is the other). Not only do the situations have nothing to do with each other, absolutely no one out there is defending Brett Favre. He has constantly been in the news and people are ripping him and hoping he goes to jail.
Yes! I was hoping someone would wedge in some racism in the comments section!
Deflect! Deflect! The only person bringing up race is you. You’re the one with the whataboutism.
Farve is also a slimeball, and probably a worse one. Where is the article in which people are defending him?
Fights happen on sports teams. Punish him and move on
Flip Poole for a defender
I guess all of the tough guy keyboard warriors dismissing this forgot about Kermit Washington and Rudy Tomjanovich. Didn’t look like that big of a punch by Kermit, but Rudy hit his head on the hardwood and had spinal fluid leaking so badly he could taste it. Bottom line is resorting to that kind of behavior, especially in a professional setting, is childish and short-sighted. You never know what physical impact it will have when you’re dealing with strong, world-class athletes. If Poole had hit the floor instead of the wall, who knows?
I don’t care about Jordan/Kerr or what happened in the old days. You legislate this out of the game before someone gets seriously hurt or sues. And for people thinking there’s no precedent, Sprewell was suspended a year for attacking Carlisimo.
Poole shouldn’t talk smack then. PJ deserved it.
Just by stating the ‘old days’ and mentioning a freak accident with Rudy clearly points to you being a soft millennial baby. Grow a pair.
Green is 230. Poole is 190 at most. And you’re trying to justify this violent, toxic culture of intimidation? Winning by injuring your opponents shouldn’t be part of the NBA. Warriors haven’t figured that out yet. If Draymond wants to play this way then he should try the UFC and fight someone his own size. More violence to come from him, but I’m glad you’re okay with it.
I’m sure they’re already doing so but the Warriors brass needs to talk to both players on a one on basis. If both players show that they’re willing to bury this and move on then nothing should happen. Both Poole and Green are at fault. No you shouldn’t punch someone but you shouldn’t goad someone on until it reaches that point. I can’t blame Poole for pushing Dray away but I honestly can’t blame Green for retaliation. Poole is the one that brought physicality into the situation.
The Warriors should let any type of suspension or fine come from the league level as if they themselves do it it could come off as favoritism to either party. Hell if the league does the sanctioning it would probably galvanize the team.
Obviously NBA practice isn’t a normal workplace environment but if it were most any other workplace both would be looking for a new job.
How do you know Poole provoked this?
Certainly there is no goading visible in the video – Poole was nowhere near Green when the video starts.
And to claim Poole started it by shoving him doesn’t make sense either, that’s merely a “get out of my face” human reaction.
So Green just looked over at Poole and decided to approach him and get in his face for no reason? There’s tension there.
I agree that the push is a normal reaction when someone gets in your face but a punch in retaliation for physicality is normal as well. Like I said they’re both at fault.
Personally I’m a pretty peaceful guy and I wouldn’t have let it escalate to that point but if someone gets physical with me I’m getting physical as well.
The irony is that Draymond was out their talking about Sarver needing to be out of the league for his disgusting comments and behaviors towards his employees, but he thinks punching a coworker is completely acceptable. You can’t have it both ways. And for all those that keep pushing the narrative that teammates get into fights and altercations in practice all the time, that’s the same narrative that’s been said about all the racial and misogynistic comments in the workplace. Just because it’s always been that way, doesn’t mean it’s acceptable and should continue.
The Warriors should suspend him not the league. Shows what NBA players get away with and when is own GM won’t suspend him.
“Polluted Poole and Dirty Dre”
at it again ……………
A lot of Karen’s in the comments. Jordan hit Kerr in practice and he’s the goat. Sorry the Warriors are better than all of your teams.
Big asterix besides the Warriors last season. Teams just folded after Green attempted to seriously injure and the league did nothing about it. Jokic, half the Grizzlies, Brown, Tatum. All the ugliness is there for you to see in video – eye gouging, knee kicks, blind sided tackles, now this. What more does the league need – the Association is complicit and Warrior fans, that want to win so bad that they just redirect and overlook, are sad. Happened to Pele in the early 60s in the World Cup when other teams just attempted to take him out to the point of injury. He stopped playing and fans missed out on seeing his greatness. FIFA was smart enough to change the game to protect its stars.
I think this will be draymond’s last season with the warriors.
I wonder if the league will enforce a suspension now this has leaked…
This could of ended Poole’s season…
The bigger questions are what is Draymond going to do next, because he is clearly emboldened by the fact that he attempts to injure and keeps getting away with it, and why does the Warriors organization and a lot of it fans keep trying to justify his actions? Both are part of the problem and deserve to be associated with what he does next.