Jordan Poole had to relive a negative career-defining moment during a recent elementary school visit.
This week, the shooting guard and some of his New Orleans Pelicans teammates chatted with some young fans who asked them about life in the NBA. One kid in particular asked Poole about his time as a Golden State Warrior, in particular when he was punched by Draymond Green in 2022.
When the kid asked how that moment felt, Poole responded honestly. "It was tough, bro," he told the young fan.
In 2022, Green and Poole got into a physical altercation during a Golden State Warriors practice — and a clip of the fight made the rounds online. Green is claimed to have escalated the situation when he "forcibly struck" Poole. The incident resulted in Green taking time off from the team.
Coach Steve Kerr later said Green had only been fined for his actions and that his absence from the team was his own choice. At the time, Kerr said that Poole was "willing to move forward and willing to get back out on the floor with Draymond and go to work."
But the incident became a career-defining moment for Poole. While the Warriors continued on with the season, it was clear that Poole and Green couldn't work together. Poole was ultimately traded to the Wizards in June 2023 and is now with the Pelicans.
It seems like there was still some bad blood between Green and Poole as recently as 2024. During a game in November 2024, when Poole was still with the Wizards, he prevented Green from talking to his teammate, Wizards rookie Carlton "Bub" Carrington. At other points throughout the game, both men also talked trash through gestures.
Green has been apologetic for his actions, though. Last January, when Green caught wind of a comment from Poole, who said he had “love [for] most of those guys” on the Warriors, Green responded on X, writing, "I really am sorry."