Draymond Green fined after he sparked ‘biggest crisis’ by punching Jordan Poole but Warriors star WON’T be suspended
A WEEK away from the team seems to have been just what the doctor ordered as Draymond Green returns to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 32-year-old power forward returned on Thursday after a week-long absence from training, and is expected to play on Friday against the Denver Nuggets after being fined by the team.
This came after Green punched teammate Jordan Poole in a training session, knocking the 23-year-old to the ground, in what head coach Steve Kerr described as "the biggest crisis that we've had since I've been the coach here."
Footage of the altercation was leaked and Green subsequently decided to step back from the team.
However, Green has not been suspended and the team has now brought him back into the mix, although, Kerr admitted that Green has broken their trust, saying that he is "giving him the benefit of the doubt because I think he's earned that."
Kerr said: "There is no way around it: [Our] culture has been damaged by this incident.
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"You have to work to repair that."
Central to this repair job will be Green and Poole working to fix their relationship, with Kerr admitting that Poole is "willing to move forward and willing to get back out on the floor with Draymond and go to work."
Kerr also said that Green had met with the front office as well as Poole himself, with Poole and teammate Steph Curry consulted along with other players and staff members on the decision to bring Green back.
Ultimately, Kerr seemed keen to emphasize the seriousness of this situation, admitting that "we're not perfect," but that they believe this is the correct decision.
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Kerr said: "We're going to lean on the experience that we have together and trust that this is the best decision for our team. We have a lot of work to do. All of us."
Green has reportedly apologized to the team as well as Poole.
Following the incident, Green also spoke to the media to publicly apologize, stating: "I failed as a leader and in turn, it’s led to this. And so for me personally, I have to take what comes with that. I have to deal with that and continue to better myself as I will.
"Like I said before rebuild the trust and relationships in this locker room and because ultimately that is what’s most important to me.
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"And making sure that this team can come together and compete at the absolute highest level that we know we need to compete at to do what we’re setting out to do."
Green, a four-time NBA Champion and All-Star, is also expected to play on opening night against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, October 18.
