GM confirms altercation, apology
Myers: Team will handle discipline of Green internally
SAN FRANCISCO >> Warriors star Draymond Green apologized to Jordan Poole and the team Thursday after getting into a physical altercation with Poole one day prior, general manager Bob Myers said.
Green left the facility shortly after and didn’t participate in practice. Meanwhile, Poole joined the team for a scheduled scrimmage.
“It’s the NBA, professional sports,” Myers said. “These things happen. Nobody likes it. We don’t condone it but it happened.”
It was reported Wednesday that Green was facing disciplinary actions after he hit Poole following a fiery exchange at Wednesday’s practice. The two ultimately needed to be separated and practice had to be stopped.
After a break in practice, Poole returned to the court to finish his workout. Myers said “everybody’s fine.”
Myers wouldn’t disclose information pertaining to Green’s punishment, saying the matter will be dealt “internally.” Green is expected
to return to practice Saturday, and the Warriors don’t anticipate he’ll miss any games.
“Space is good,” Myers said.
It’s unclear what prompted Green to hit Poole.
“It was nothing out of the ordinary until it wasn’t,” Stephen Curry said.
Myers shut down the idea that ongoing contract negotiations could’ve sparked the blowup.
“I don’t think this was related to who’s getting paid, who isn’t,” Myers said. “I don’t sense that.”
Poole, Andrew Wiggins and Green are all due for
contract extensions, though Poole’s appears to be the most pressing as the Oct. 17 deadline for rookie contract extension looms. At media day last month, Poole and Wiggins said their expiring contracts weren’t at the top of their minds. Meanwhile, Green said he was motivated knowing he was playing for a new deal.
The Warriors also pushed back on a report that surfaced Wednesday night indicating Poole’s attitude had changed as he’s expected to receive a mega pay raise in the near future.
“Nothing could be further than the truth,” coach Steve Kerr said. “He has been fantastic.”
Curry also backed Poole, saying he’s been great and that he hates Poole’s character came under fire.
“It’s absolutely BS,” Curry said of the report. “JP has been great. There’s nothing that warranted the situation yesterday, make that clear. But it’s also something that we feel like will not derail our season with what we’re trying to do and that’s with Draymond as a part of it.”
While the Warriors tend to welcome and embrace Green’s emotional intensity, the team’s leaders made it clear that what he did Wednesday was inexcusable.
The Warriors hope they can move past this incident with the leadership of veterans such as Curry and Andre Iguodala. Myers noted that he felt the “vibes” around the Warriors were very positive as the team traveled to Japan and back last week for two preseason games.
“It’s unfortunate and not gonna deny it,” Myers said. “It will take some time to move through, but we’ll move through it… I’m confident that we will.”
The Warriors’ next preseason game is Sunday against the Lakers. They open the regular season with Los Angeles on Oct. 18.