Draymond Green has for the first time addressed punching Jordan Poole at practice. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Green insisted he and Poole were moving past the incident.
“Jordan’s a professional and I’m a professional,” he said. “We have a job to do…We’re gonna do what it takes to win, and I think that’s the most important thing.”
The Warriors fined Green an undisclosed amount but decided against suspending him. That cleared the way for Green to return to practice on Thursday and Golden State big man Kevon Looney said there was no lingering bad blood whatsoever.
“There was joy in the gym,” Looney said. “People was talking stuff, competing… Felt like a normal day to me. Things happen and we kind of move on pretty fast. I think that’s what makes our team special.”
Meanwhile, Green also addressed his future with the team during Thursday’s media availability. Assuming he decided to pick up his player option for 2023-24, he would become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024.
Golden State’s record-breaking payroll and luxury tax bill has fuelled speculation that the team would have to choose between re-signing either Green or Poole.
“I spoke on that at the very beginning, I said I don’t think we’ll do an extension,” Green said. “That doesn’t mean I don’t think I’ll be back here, I just don’t think we’ll do an extension this year.”
Green and the Warriors will begin their championship defence when they face the Lakers on Tuesday next week.