Who is Draymond Green?

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green and Jordan Poole got into a physical altercation, according to a report from The Athletic. The team’s management is reportedly considering disciplinary action against the 32-year-old. 

The altercation was a result of an increasingly heated argument between the two. Green took a swing, which made contact with Poole, ESPN reported. The team was taken to the locker room to sort things out. Nobody was injured and Poole finished his workout before leaving the practice. Green will likely face punishment for escalating the confrontation. 

Who is Draymond Green?

The Saginaw-born three-time NBA Champion and four-time NBA All-Star first made his name playing for Michigan State University, helping the Spartans to two Final Four appearances in his four years of college basketball. Drafted by Golden State in 2012, he was instrumental in their title runs in 2015, 2017 and 2018. In his rookie year, he found himself behind veterans Brandon Rush and Richard Jefferson before injuries to both helped him find more minutes.

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The 2014-15 season would be his breakout year. After David Lee pulled out of the Warriors’ squad due to a persistent hamstring issue Green was promoted to the first team as his replacement. Part of a resurgent Golden State side under Steve Kerr’s astute management, he would average 13.3 points per game during their remarkable 16-game winning run. The forward would record his first triple-double against the Toronto Raptors, pitching in with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists in their 126-105 win. Continuing in this vein, he would become only the sixth player to record a triple-double in an NBA Finals clinching game, dominating the court against LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers!

Re-signing with the Warriors in 2015 on a bumper five-year, $82 million contract, Green would sparkle from the get-go. Posting back-to-back triple-doubles against the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings, he became the first Warriors player to do so since the legendary Wilt Chamberlain. Marching to the NBA finals on the back of a splendid run, they would come unstuck over seven hotly contested matches against LeBron’s Cavaliers. A spiky affair, Green and James would have to be separated during Game 4, after a skirmish that turned ugly. In spite of powering to a 3-1 lead, The Cavs would overhaul the deficit in spectacular fashion, breaking Cleveland’s long-running sporting hoodoo!

In 2017, the two would meet again in the NBA Finals. This time Golden State had the measure of them, closing out the finals in 5 games. Draymond was explosive throughout, earning him the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award, a first for a Golden State player. The Warriors would reach their fourth consecutive finals the year after, again squaring off against the Cavs. As the Warriors coasted to a 4-0 sweep in the finals, Green would cross off a personal landmark. In Game 3 of the finals, San-Francisco’s adopted star would move past Chamberlain’s record of most playoff rebounds for the Warriors!

As the Warriors began to establish themselves as the team of the decade, Green would star alongside Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant in the 2018-19 season. Marching to their fifth consecutive NBA final after blitzing Portland Trail Blazers 4-0 in the Western Conference final, Steve Kerr’s side was eyeing a hat-trick of titles! Green was particularly vicious against the Trail Blazers, capping off with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in Game 4 of the Conference finals. However, the Raptors would stun them to clinch the NBA Finals 4-2. The forward was impressive nonetheless, posting his sixth triple-double of the post-season in their Game 6 defeat to the Raptors. In doing so, he would tie Magic Johnson for second-most triple-doubles in the post-season.

Putting pen to paper on an even more lucrative contract in August 2019, Green chose to remain with the Golden State, turning down potentially more money. However, the Warriors would endure a slump, failing to make the playoffs in 2020 and 2021. Their overall failures aside, Green would tick off yet another personal milestone. Recording his 29th triple-double in a 123-108 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, he would push ahead of Michael Jordan in 17th place for career triple-doubles!

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After two years in the wilderness, Golden State has returned to the finals but faces a 2-1 deficit against the Boston Celtics. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Draymond will have his eyes on the more prestigious silver and gold make crafted by Tiffany & Co.