Draymond Green is back with the Golden State Warriors following the practice incident where he punched teammate Jordan Poole. While there are going to be a lot of questions about the incident and how the two can play together moving forward, Green is hoping that everyone can move past it.
Good luck with that.
Green spoke with reporters on Thursday for the first time since he stepped away from the Warriors. While head coach Steve Kerr said that Green would be fined but not suspended for the altercation, his future with the franchise remains somewhat up in the air. Green previously apologized for the incident, though not without his patented childishness.
For now, at least, Green says that he and Poole will be professionals and do what they need to do to repeat as NBA champions.
Draymond Green addresses his 'business relationship' with Jordan Poole after first practice back with Warriors since punch.
"Jordan's a professional and I'm a professional. We have a job to do…We're gonna do what it takes to win, and I think that's the most important thing." pic.twitter.com/mbUcd7ASSf
— Jack Winter (@ArmstrongWinter) October 13, 2022
“As far as us moving forward, Jordan’s a professional, I’m a professional,” said Green. “We have a job to do. We both have experienced a lot of winning over the course of our lives and we know what that takes. So we’re going to just that, what it takes to win.”
Green was also asked about his future with the franchise and said that he’s going to focus on this season and take it from there.
“My general view of the year is I’m here this year trying to win a championship. I have a contract that ranges through next year. If I so choose to pick up that option, that is my view of how it will be here. We all have a goal to win a championship and that is that. As far as what I think of a contract or an extension, we started camp and I spoke on that at the very beginning, I said ‘I don’t think we’re doing an extension.’ Quite frankly, that doesn’t mean I won’t be back here, I just don’t think we’re doing an extension this year.
“If you’re going to let a contract situation linger, then you better be damn sure that you’re willing to handle all the effects of a contract lingering, that it can have on a team. Everybody don’t do that. We’ve seen LeBron James have contract situations, we’ve seen Stephen Curry have contract situations. They handle it the way it’s supposed to be handled. Can’t say that for everyone.”
It’s sure to be a very interesting season ahead for Green and the Warriors, especially if questions about the incident and his place with the team continue to keep coming, as they most certainly will.
Draymond has many good qualities but leaning on his professionalism to fix this situation is not reassuring https://t.co/HKytw4gVBr
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) October 13, 2022
When asked if he and Poole would be able to get back to how their relationship was before, Green said “I’m not sure. But I don’t think there’s much relevancy there, frankly … we both know how to play basketball, and that’s the most important thing.” https://t.co/HIDWAp1OC3
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) October 13, 2022
Doing what Draymond did is literally the complete opposite of what it means to be a professional. https://t.co/NgWOcFXOSR
— Chris Walder (@WalderSports) October 13, 2022
