Unsurprisingly, both Draymond Green and Jordan Poole haven’t spoken much about the infamous punch that happened during training camp. Both individuals want to move forward, and dwelling on the unfortunate incident wouldn’t be beneficial to the Warriors’ success this season.
Still, everyone is wondering, what is the status of the relationship between the two over three months after Green cold-cocked Poole during practice? Thankfully, Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report asked Green just that on the latest episode of her podcast.
Here’s what he had to say:
We go to work every day together. Our lockers are right next to each other, that never changed. We ride the same busses together, we change in the same locker room on the road together. None of that has changed.
Did it change our relationship? Of course. Absolutely. That’s still a work in progress. I’ll always be willing to do that work because I was wrong.
And so in saying all of that, yes, definitely allowed to move forward and we have moved forward and it’s been just fine. But is it different? 100 percent. Not that I expected it to be the same. If I had to say back then like ‘Oh I think this will go like this or this will go like that,’ I can’t say it’s been very far off from the way I thought it would go. I think it’s been pretty close to the way I thought it would go.
But as far as us moving forward, we’ve definitely moved forward and I see improvements day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month I see improvements. And that’s all you can ask for.
I don’t expect him to come be like ‘man, I want to come hang with you off the court.’ I don’t expect that. I’m not a fool, I grew up in Saginaw, MI. I’ve been in fights before, I’ve been in situations before, I know how you come out of those situations….In saying that, it’s kind of what I expected it to be.
That’s about what you would expect. It sounds like Poole and Green are remaining professional even if there is still some natural friction or awkwardness that comes from such an ugly public incident. Weather or not the relationship will ever be fully repaired remains to be seen.
Interestingly, Green said that one day he’ll share “his side of the story” though he doesn’t care to do that any time soon. Draymond’s full discussion on the topic can be listened to below.