I believe in the powers of rehabilitation. I believe Draymond Green is capable of improving himself. I believe in the Warriors, top to bottom.
After a “heated interaction” during practice, Green “forcefully struck” his teammate Jordan Poole. Despite the wishes of the organization, a video of the altercation leaked to TMZ. Some fans expected a very harsh punishment for Green, who has made a habit of stepping over the line during his career with the Warriors.
Many assumed Green would get suspended for at least eight games because that is how long Bobby Portis was away from the Bulls after his punch sent former NBA player Nikola Mirotic to the hospital. But the Warriors decided that a fine, not a suspension, was enough for Green.
I am more than confident that they made the right call with this decision.
I don’t condone the actions, either. What he did was egregious and detrimental to not only Poole but also to himself and to the team. This violence was utterly shocking, and even other NBA players were very surprised about Green’s punch.
When the Bulls suspended Portis for similar problems, that was made as an organizational decision, not from the league. Nobody would have faulted the Warriors if they followed that precedent, or one even harsher.
But the plan was always to handle the punishment internally, and the video leaking rightfully did not change that decision.
This simply made the public aware of the ugly details of what happened during a dispute between two coworkers, and those two individuals have apparently worked out their differences.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said this decision was made after what was undoubtedly an “exhaustive process” and that it was the “biggest crisis” that he has ever faced as a head coach.
Kerr said Poole had a “great discussion” with Green, though, and the guard was involved in the decision-making process. He spoke very highly about Poole’s maturity, and he said the two are ready to get back to work.
But it isn’t just Poole and Kerr who would have to accept Green back into the locker room. This had to be a unanimous decision, and everyone had to be on the same page. This was handled by the players, first and foremost, and they were all empowered to make the decision because they were the people most impacted.
According to Kerr, two-time MVP Stephen Curry was instrumental in the “healing process” that the team faced after the incident between Green and Poole.
Curry and Green have played together since 2012, and if Green lost Curry’s trust, this situation may not have been salvageable. Curry, who spends more time with Green and Poole than the fans, was presumably on board with this decision.
The four-time NBA champion knows how valuable both of these players are to their championship hopes, and after weighing the options, this was clearly the right call.
Kerr also noted that Warriors big man Kevon Looney has become the “moral compass” for the team. His voice and his wisdom played a pivotal role in this process, too.
But if Looney is the moral compass for Golden State, there is little doubt that Green is their spiritual leader. Kerr has said as much, describing the one-time Defensive Player of the Year as “Reverend Green” and as their evangelist.
Green has long been described as the “heart and soul” of the Warriors, too. He is typically the catalyst that makes the engine start, and his fire brings a critical dimension to their identity.
He stepped away from the team, which was the right call, and now they are now ready to accept him back into the fold. It is their workplace, after all.
Golden State’s Moses Moody said that the Warriors are “ready to get our OG back” and if that’s the mood in the clubhouse, then there simply is not much left to talk about with this issue.
If the teammates want him back, he should be back. But there is another factor that may have come into play here, and it is worth addressing.
The Warriors begin the season with their home opener against the Lakers on October 18. According to veteran reporter Brian Windhorst, that actually may have played a role in why Green was not suspended (via ESPN):
“One of the things that I have been told: When the Warriors leadership met with the team’s veterans about what to do over this situation, one of the concerns that the veterans was that the first game of the season is ring night and any sort of suspension of a regular season game would have meant that Draymond would have potentially missed that important moment. That might have been a factor in the Warriors deciding, at least not initially, to suspend him.”
Players, coaches, and front office staff will receive their rings during a pregame ceremony on opening night. Even though Green has said that he caused a “dark cloud” over the events, it’s important for Green to be there during the ceremony.
This is Green’s fourth ring, and that puts him in rarefied air. Warriors owner Joe Lacob has described this championship as the “most meaningful” that the team has won, too, after their core group recovered from devastating injuries to accomplish it.
But there is also a real possibility this could be Green’s final championship with Golden State. Green has a player option in his contract, and if he does not get an extension, he could very well opt-out and become a free agent.
Green made a mistake, assuredly, but he should be there with his teammates when they are presented with their championship rings. He put in the work, and he should be recognized for his achievement.
The world will watch Green’s actions under a microscope this season, and his interactions with Poole will be especially scrutinized. If he slips up again, we will have a different conversation.
He deserves the benefit of the doubt, though, because his teammates on the Warriors are giving it to him. That’s all the evidence we need to come to this conclusion.
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