One day after Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green apologised to the team for punching teammate Jordan Poole during practice, a video of the incident was leaked.
On Saturday (NZ time), TMZ distributed video that shows Green standing on the wing during a stoppage in play, while Poole is on the baseline. Green walks over to Poole and bumps him with his chest before Poole shoves Green. At that point, Green takes a swing with his right hand before both players go to the ground behind the basket while staff members move to break up the fracas.
Green expressed his sorrow for the incident and then departed the facility as the defending NBA champion Warriors practiced without him.
"Everybody's fine. Jordan practiced today. Draymond didn't," Golden State general manager Bob Myers said. "Look, it's the NBA. Professional sports. These things happen. Nobody likes it, we don't condone it, but it happened.
"Draymond apologised to the team this morning. Jordan was there in the room, I was in the room, the team, the coaches, players. And we heard that."
Still to be determined is how Green will be disciplined for the incident. Myers said he didn't think the punishment would include missing any games.
"As far as any suspension, punishment, fine, we're gonna handle that internally," Myers said. "I understand you might have questions on that, but that's gonna be an internal process."
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he expects Green to return to the team. ESPN reported the team was working to find the source of the video using "every legal course of action."
Kerr said there was high energy during practice.
"There's been a great vibe," Kerr said. "We've had a hell of a camp. You have bumps in the road and you deal with it."
The incident between Green and Poole occurred during Wednesday's practice.
Green, 32, a four-time All-Star, is entering his 11th season in the league, all with the Warriors. He's a seven-time All-Defensive selection with career averages of 8.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
Poole, 23, is entering his fourth season after the Warriors selected him No. 28 overall in the 2019 draft. He broke out last season, averaging 18.5 points per game in 76 contests (51 starts).
Reuters
