Steve Kerr: Draymond Green fined, not suspended for punching Jordan Poole
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr announced on Tuesday that Draymond Green has been fined but not suspended for punching teammate Jordan Poole in practice.
Kerr made the announcement after Golden State's preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers while calling the situation "the biggest crisis that we've ever had." He declined to disclose the amount of the fine.
"He is going to come back to practice on Thursday," Kerr said. "He has been fined. He will not be suspended. I expect him to play Friday in our last preseason game and on opening night."
'The biggest crisis that we've ever had'
Kerr said that "key figures" in the organization including Green, Poole, Stephen Curry and general manager Bob Myers were involved in conversations leading up to the decision on Green's punishment.
"It's been an exhaustive process," Kerr continued. ... "We feel like this is the best way after assessing everything for us to move forward. It's never easy no matter what decision you make in a situation like this. It's not going to be perfect.
"This is the biggest crisis that we've ever had since I've been coach here. It's really serious stuff."
Kerr added that he trusts Green and that the Warriors veteran has earned the benefit of the doubt.
"I trust him," Kerr said. "He broke our trust with this incident. But I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt because I think he’s earned that. I think our team feels the same way."
Green punched Poole in the jaw
Green apologized on Saturday following Friday reports that he had punched Poole in practice. Sources told Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill that tensions between Green and Poole had been simmering since the start of training camp. Both players are eligible for contract extensions, and Poole, 23, is widely expected to receive an extension while Green's long-term future with the franchise remains unclear. Green, 32, has played a key role in helping the Warriors win four NBA championships.
After the reports, TMZ published video leaked from Warriors practice showing Green stepping up to Poole's chest amid an apparent verbal confrontation then punching Poole in the jaw, knocking him to the floor.
Green told reporters that he apologized to Poole, his family and the Warriors for "the embarrassment" caused by the attack while declaring that: “I failed as a leader. I failed as man.”
"I was wrong for my actions that took place on Wednesday," Green said. "For that, I have apologized to my team. I have apologized to Jordan."
He denied that the attack had anything to do with his or Poole's contract situations.
"I can assure you I don't count other people's pockets," Green added.
Why wasn't Green suspended?
The Warriors have disciplined Green before for an altercation with a teammate. The team suspended him for a single game in 2018 while citing "conduct detrimental to the team." That time he called then-teammate Kevin Durant a "bitch" during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. He did not punch Durant.
Kerr was asked why Green wasn't suspended this time.
"Every situation is totally different," Kerr said. "We don't look at everything in a vacuum and say 'well, we did that here, we've gotta do that there.' We would hope that we've developed enough equity with the experience we have with our fanbase, with people watching over the last decade that people can trust that we've really put a lot of thought into this decision.
"As I said, we feel like this is the best way for us to move forward."
Kerr added that conversations involving Green and Poole together played a role in the decision-making process.
"Jordan and Draymond had a great discussion that I think will help us move forward," Kerr said.
Poole has not addressed the incident publicly. Kerr anticipates that Poole will speak with media soon.
The Warriors open their regular season at home on Oct. 18 against the Los Angeles Lakers, where they'll celebrate their 2022 NBA championship with a ring ceremony.
