Warriors' Draymond Green Talks Jordan Poole Apology: 'Let's Move On' From Altercation

Draymond Green is ready to move on from his altercation with former teammate Jordan Poole back in Oct. 2022, when Green punched Poole during a practice.

On Wednesday, he explained why he responded on social media with another apology to Poole's quote about loving most of his ex-teammates on the Golden State Warriors, which felt like a veiled shot at Green.

"I responded because it's been three years," he said Wednesday on The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis. "Like, let's move on. We've moved on. I really am sorry. That statement [by Poole] was kind of like it was looking for some sympathy... kind of keep on making me out to be the bad guy. Move on, bro. It is what it is. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have punched him. But it happened. Let's move on."

The punch came after the two men were jawing during the practice. Green was fined by the Warriors following the incident and left the team for a stretch but didn't face any formal punishment by the NBA. But it created tension within the Warriors and was one of the catalysts for the team trading Poole ahead of the 2023-24 season.

The Warriors forward acknowledged again on Wednesday that he shouldn't have thrown a punch, but also noted that it was a knee-jerk reaction to being called an expletive.

"I kind of go back and forth with this," he said. "I know I was wrong, but you can't call a man a B-word and push him and not get hit, either. So, I kind of sit in both of those spaces sometimes. Like, the reality is, the answer is probably somewhere in the middle, right? I shouldn't have knocked him out like that. If anything, I should have hemmed him up. It kind of was just a natural reaction. I think, for him, you are kind of bringing that back up on yourself. Like when you do that, you just bring up that moment back on yourself. You just got to move on and keep it pushing, man. Got to let it go."

Green, 34, has developed a reputation for being an aggressive, passionate player who is prone to losing control.

He was suspended five games last season for putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a chokehold, and later in the 2023-24 campaign was suspended indefinitely for hitting Jusuf Nurkić with a flailing arm to the face. He ultimately missed 12 games and underwent counseling and mandatory check-ins with various members of the NBA, Warriors and NBPA.

Green has avoided any such incidents this season. And while he may be ready to move on from past transgressions like punching Poole, the Washington Wizards' guard is well within his rights to hold onto the grudge if he so desires.