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Draymond Green is known for his hot temper
Photo:
Kelley L Cox / USA Today Sports / REUTERS
The defending champions of the North American professional basketball league NBA, the Golden State Warriors, have had a serious conflict in training.
Involved were 32-year-old forward Draymond Green, a four-time NBA champion and one of the best defensemen of his generation, and 23-year-old Jordan Poole, a two-year guard at the Warriors who made his breakthrough last season.
First of all, the US sports portal "The Athletic" reported on Thursday about a "physical altercation", as a result of which Green was threatened with a suspension.
The Warriors leadership tried to quickly moderate the matter.
“These things happen.
Nobody likes it, we don't condone it, but it happens," general manager Bob Myers said at a press conference on Thursday. "Draymond has apologized to the team.
Jordan was in the room.
As for a suspension, punishment or fine – we will settle that internally.«
Matters escalated on Friday when the tabloid website TMZ published a video showing the unfolding of the conflict.
While the game is suspended, Green is on the sideline and Poole is on the baseline, the two separating only a few yards.
Apparently, the professionals allow a verbal exchange of blows, while Green approaches his teammate.
Green gets so close that he touches his chest to Poole, apparently speaking straight to his face.
He reacts to the provocation by trying to push Green away.
Unbridled punch in the face
At this moment the situation escalates: Green strikes.
It's not a slap in the face or a light slap to the body or head.
Green hits Poole straight with his strong right hand, throwing the momentum of his body into the punch.
Green then goes even further towards Poole, although he is already down, before the situation is resolved by bystanders.
The blow is particularly treacherous because it seems to come completely unexpectedly for Poole.
Note: The video shows the use of physical violence.
It's an unequal conflict.
On the NBA website, Draymond Green is listed at 1.98 meters and 104 kilograms.
Poole, on the other hand, is only slightly shorter at 1.93 meters, but is significantly slimmer (88 kilograms).
At Golden State, Green has the role of the tough, defensively oriented leader.
He gives the successful team of recent years the necessary aggressiveness to survive at a high level and in pressure situations.
He plays hard but intelligently, Green has an outstanding understanding of the game and gives his teammates many commands.
In his own podcast, he speaks just as unfiltered as on the square, where he regularly crosses the border.
Then there are penalties from the referees because Green complains too much - or tussles with opponents because Green's bullying went in their direction.
Such provocations have often escalated, so Green caused his team great sporting damage because he was banned.
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