The former Michigan and Michigan State stars are having some issues.
Cats and dogs. The cobra and the mongoose. Spartans and Wolverines. Some creatures just have a hard time getting along.
That was apparently the case on Wednesday morning when Draymond Green and Jordan Poole argued and fought at Golden State Warriors practice. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the altercation turned physical and Green struck Poole. Green may be facing disciplinary action.
Sources: There was a physical altercation at Warriors’ practice today that has the team considering disciplinary action toward Draymond Green.
Story at @TheAthletic with @anthonyVslater, @ThompsonScribe: https://t.co/OYQ9WJFJtd
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 6, 2022
Welp…TMZ found the video between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole. Poole pushed. Green responded…pretty damn quickly. WOO. STUCK. 😳 pic.twitter.com/XKJTOEEUeP
— ™️Marcus (@TheMisterMarcus) October 7, 2022
Fights during practice aren’t uncommon in team sports. Isiah Thomas famously broke his hand when he punched Bill Laimbeer in 1993. NFL training camps are good for several brawls each year.
It’s also not surprising to see Draymond Green involved in an incident like this. The former Michigan State star’s intelligence, talent, and versatility have helped revolutionize the NBA over the past decade, and he’s likely headed to the Hall of Fame. He’s also famously irascible.
Jordan Poole, meanwhile, was one of the NBA’s biggest breakout stars last year. Injuries to Steph Curry and Klay Thompson opened up playing time for the free-wheeling Poole, and he made huge strides as a playmaker and shooter. He finished the season averaging 18.5 points and 4.0 assists per game, and he was a menace early in the playoffs.
But, according to Chris Haynes from Yahoo Sports, it seems perhaps Poole was getting a bit too big for his britches:
Draymond Green was apologetic in aftermath of the altercation with Jordan Poole, but there was a buildup stemming from teammates noticing a change in Poole’s behavior throughout camp with the guard on the verge of securing a lucrative extension, league sources tell @YahooSports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 6, 2022
This isn’t particularly shocking either. Strange things happen when the bag gets close.
Today’s scuffle doesn’t seem likely to have any long-lasting effects. Green apologized to the team, and Poole was seen taking shots later in the day.
Two sources have confirmed with me the altercation between Draymond Green & Jordan Poole.
I watched Jordan Poole get up shots today after practice. Seemed in good spirits, even was laughing. PBJ and Lester Quinones were the only other guys on the court at the time I shot this. pic.twitter.com/FtxYo5XgH6
— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) October 6, 2022
Draymond Green and Jordan Poole never played against each other in college. Green had a decorated career with the Spartans from 2008-2012, and he was a key contributor for their 2009 Final Four squad. Poole played in Ann Arbor for just two seasons. He was a bit player on their 2018 Final Four team, and a solid starter for them in 2019.
It seems unlikely a heated college rivalry was the cause of this particular scuffle. But it probably didn’t help.
Chris Brown – staff writer
Follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisBrown0914
Photo Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
