Google News Jordan Poole addresses being punched by Draymond Green
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Jordan Poole says Draymond Green apologized for the punch he delivered. Two weeks ago, Green sucker-punched Poole during practice. After being away from the team for a couple of days, Green returned to the Warriors. Now, Poole says the Golden State Warriors are focused on winning back-to-back NBA titles.
"He apologized as a professional and we plan handling our ourselves that way," Poole said. "We're here to play basketball and everybody in the locker room and our team knows what it takes to win a championship. We're gonna do that on the court.
That's really all I have to say regarding the matter. We're here to win a championship and keep hanging banners. Anything in regards to the contract situation, the extension, us winning a back-to-back championship, or basketball-related questions, I'm all ears."
Green admitted he was wrong in punching Poole
Two days after the incident, someone leaked a video of Green punching Poole to TMZ.
The video posted by TMZ quickly went viral as even NBA players were stunned by the punch Green delivered to Poole. Addressing the incident, Green said it was just wrong to do what he did. "No. 1, I was wrong for my actions.
There's a huge embarrassment that comes with [this]. Not only for myself, as I was the one who committed the action, but the embarrassment that Jordan has to deal with and that this team has to deal with, this organization has to deal with.
But also Jordan's family. His family saw that video. His mother, his father saw that video. If my mother saw that video, I know how my mother would feel," Green said. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr didn't try to sugarcoat anything as he admitted that the incident tarnished the team's image and reputation.
"This is the biggest crisis that we've had since I've been the coach here. It's really serious stuff. We're not perfect. But we're going to lean on the experience that we have together and trust that this is the best decision for our team.
We have a lot of work to do. All of us," Kerr said. Meanwhile, the Warriors are preparing to open their title defence. Green wasn't suspended for his actions, but some feel that he is definitely playing his last season with the Warriors.
It remains to be seen if Green, Poole and company can put the incident behind them and win another title.