The infamous altercation between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole has been the major talking point in the last few weeks of the NBA preseason. On Tuesday, after the Warriors’ announced their action against Green, the issue may finally come to an end.
According to their announcement, Draymond Green will be the one fined for this incident, not Jordan Poole. As the recently leaked video shows Green was the one violently punching Poole in his face after Poole tried to push Green away to make room when Green was coming all over him.
Ever since the incident, Draymond Green took a break from the Warriors’ camp. A significant fine and a suspension were on the card. Poole, who was assaulted by Green during the practice, was consulted alongside Stephen Curry and other players throughout the decision-making process.
As per Kerr, Poole is “willing to move on and return to the court with Draymond to work”. However, the suspension didn’t happen as Green will only be fined. The amount of his fine is unknown.
How may Green fare upon his return?
Green’s characteristics were put on a question mark ever since the leaked footage showed his aggressiveness towards Poole. Everybody at the Warriors’ camp was shocked after they got to see the whole incident as a lot of players and staff didn’t have an instant view when it happened.
Green apologized to his teammates, coach, and Poole personally. But the damage was done. “There is no way around it: [Our] culture has been damaged by this incident,” Kerr, head coach of the Warriors said. “You have to work to repair that.”
“This is the biggest crisis that we’ve had since I’ve been the coach here,” Kerr told ESPN. “It’s really serious stuff. We’re not perfect. … But we’re going to lean on the experience that we have together and trust that this is the best decision for our team. We have a lot of work to do. All of us.”
As there’s no suspension for Green, he will be available for the final preseason game against the Warriors on Friday. Kerr believes that even though Green showed a different version of himself, he will be able to set a better example in the future.
“He broke our trust, but I am giving him the benefit of the doubt because I think he’s earned that,” As Kerr looks forward to put all these behind and move on from this unwanted issue.
