Report: Draymond punch created season-long tension within Warriors
The Golden State Warriors dealt with season-long tension between their championship core and younger players after Draymond Green punched Jordan Poole during a preseason practice, sources told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
Although Poole hasn't been vocal about the matter, his feelings, as well as the frustrations of Golden State's younger players who didn't receive consistent playing time this season, were well-known in the locker room, Shelburne reports.
Additionally, the leaked video of Green's punch, as well as the lack of punishment following the team's investigation, reportedly resulted in distrust within the organization.
"People changed after that," a source told Shelburne. "Everybody was suspicious for a while."
For his part, Poole said this week that he needed to approach the season with "a different level of maturity" after the incident.
"We had a season to play," Poole said. "You're going to have to play with these people in the locker room, and that's why I said maturity is a big thing. What I know for a fact is there aren't many people who would be able to think logically and understand the magnitude of the situation."
The veteran core of Green, Klay Thompson, and Steph Curry won three championships and made five NBA Finals appearances from 2015 to 2019. The Warriors won a fourth title in 2022 with Poole leading the bench unit, while 2021 draftees Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga played minimal roles last season and floated in and out of the team's rotation this campaign.
Poole signed a four-year extension that could be worth up to $140 million shortly after the punch occurred in October.
Green, on the other hand, has a player option for the 2023-24 campaign worth $27.5 million, which he could decline to explore free agency. He said Thursday that he wishes to spend his whole career with the Warriors.
Poole averaged a career-high 20.4 points but struggled with efficiency throughout the season. He shot just 43% from the field and 33.6% from beyond the arc, both his worst marks since his rookie campaign.
The 23-year-old saw a reduced role during the playoffs. He averaged 10.3 points on 34.1% from the field, shooting just 25.4% on 3-pointers. Poole's minutes and production dropped off in the second round as the Warriors were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.