In an interview on the Two Cents Podcast with Penny Hardaway, Draymond Green opened up about one of the most challenging moments of his career: his infamous altercation with Jordan Poole during a preseason practice in 2022.
Green admitted that the incident was one of his biggest failures as a veteran player, but also acknowledged that it taught him valuable lessons on how to be a better mentor to younger teammates.
The altercation occurred when Poole, who had chosen to sit next to Green in the locker room to learn from him, said something that triggered Green’s temper. In front of the entire team, Green punched Poole in the face, knocking him unconscious. The incident was caught on video and quickly became a national news story, putting a strain on the Warriors’ team chemistry.
Reflecting on the incident, Green expressed deep regret and admitted that he felt miserable for not being the mentor Poole needed.
“One of my biggest failures as a vet was what happened with Jordan Poole,” Green said. “I poured into him, and I f***ed it all up. I haven’t felt that miserably by most things in my life.”
Despite the regret, Green emphasized that the incident taught him how to be a better veteran for younger players like Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.
“It taught me a ton, it showed me how to be a better vet,” Green said1. “I had to go through that in order to learn.”
Draymond Green says the Jordan Poole situation taught him how to be a better vet
“It taught me a ton, it showed me how to be a better vet…I had to go through that in order to learn.”
(h/t @NBABeyondCourt )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) December 27, 2024
Since the incident, Green has made a conscious effort to improve his mentoring skills and maintain a positive influence on his teammates. The Warriors organization and fans have seen Green’s growth and continue to support him as he works to rebuild trust and chemistry within the team.
