Draymond Green publicly apologizes for punching Jordan Poole, leaving Warriors to allow team to 'heal'
Draymond Green spoke during the Golden State Warriors' media availability on Saturday, and delivered a heartfelt public apology for punching his teammate Jordan Poole at practice last week.
Draymond Green: "I was wrong for my actions that took place on Wednesday. For that, I have apologized to my team. I have apologized to Jordan."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 8, 2022
Draymond Green: "There is a huge embarrassment that comes with that not only for myself with the own committing the action. But the embarrassment that Jordan has to deal with, the team has to deal with, the organization has to deal with and his family."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 8, 2022
Draymond Green said he also apologized to Jordan Poole's family and to his own family.
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 8, 2022
Draymond Green: “I failed as a leader. I failed as man.”
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) October 8, 2022
News first broke of the altercation between Green and Poole on Oct. 5. Information began to trickle out over the next few days, and we found out that Green and Poole had been beefing since training camp began. There had been some rumors that it had been about Poole's possible contract extension, but Green refuted that directly.
Draymond Green said fight with Jordan Poole had "absolutely nothing to do" with contract extensions: "I can assure you I don't count other people's pockets."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 8, 2022
Green wouldn't say what led to the fight, but he did reveal that he's been dealing with some things in his personal life and hadn't been able to leave them off the court.
On what led to the fight with Jordan Poole, Draymond Green said that "things that happened in practice should stay in practice." Draymond: "I'm not here to change an opinion. I'm here to acknowledge my mistakes."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 8, 2022
Draymond Green said he has been dealing with undisclosed things in his personal life. Draymond: "When you are doing something when you step on the court, that doesn't go away. As a leader of this team, I need to have a better feel for myself."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 8, 2022
Green had already apologized to his teammates earlier in the week, and he believes the team accepted it. He's not sure how Poole feels about everything, though, including his apology.
Draymond Green on how his apology was received: "I think my apology was accepted pretty well from the team, at least that's what I was told. As far as how it was accepted from Jordan, I'm not sure how it was accepted." Draymond said he "wants to give Jordan space."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 8, 2022
Draymond Green: "Jordan's feelings are most important. to be honest, I don't know how he really feels. That's not a bridge we really crossed yet, nor should it be a bridge we should cross yet."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 8, 2022
He was also fairly angry at video of the altercation becoming public, but didn't use that as an excuse for his actions. He still recognized what he did was wrong, and after watching the video a number of times realized the whole thing looked even worse than he originally thought it did.
Draymond Green on the video becoming public: "I thought it was bullsh---. No other videos leak from practice. When we're working on our sets, that don't leak." Draymond said he watched the video "15 times, maybe more" and conceded "it looks even worse than I thought it was."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 8, 2022
Draymond Green: "Regardless of how the video was leaked with audio or without audio, I was wrong. I accept that and will move forward with that."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 8, 2022
As for what happens now, Green said that the attitude and feelings of the team are most important.
Draymond Green: "That is the task at hand to rebuild trust in our locker room and pull everything back together in order to repeat and defend a championship. Although that is the least of my worries right now, that has to stay at the forefront."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 8, 2022
And in light of that, Green will take (more) time away from the team. He wants to give the team time to heal, and he also wants to take time to work on himself. He doesn't know how long he'll be away.
Draymond Green said he's going to "take some time to myself." Draymond: "I will continue to stay away. I've been away. I will continue to do work on myself. And continue to give guys space."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 8, 2022
Green announces he will step away from the team for a few days to focus on himself, and allow the team to "heal." He doesn't know how long he will be away.
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) October 8, 2022
At this point, he doesn't know if he'll play in the Warriors' season opener.
Draymond Green on if he expects to play in the Warriors' season opener: "I expect to play. But will I play? That is a completely different story and something we will figure out."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 8, 2022
But he did make one thing clear: he still loves and supports Poole.
Draymond Green: "I love Jordan Poole. That's my guy. I will still ride for Jordan, still advocate for Jordan and do anything I can to make Jordan's job easy."
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) October 8, 2022
