Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. The Golden State Warriors began their NBA championship defense on the most sour of notes.
Draymond Green punched teammate Jordan Poole in the face during training camp, leading to Green being away from the team for a week.
Draymond Green, #23 of the Golden State Warriors, helps up Jordan Poole, #3, during Round 1 Game 5 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2023 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) Green was fined by the organization but not suspended, and the four-time NBA champion was in the starting lineup for the opening of the 2022-23 season. NUGGETS SURVIVE LAKERS' SECOND-HALF SURGE TO TAKE GAME 1 IN WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS Golden State struggled to regain its championship-level play all season, eventually falling to the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
During his end-of-season exit interview, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr discussed how the punch from Green impacted the team during the season. "There was some of that that was lost this year, for sure," Kerr said Tuesday when asked about the chemistry on the team during the season. "There's no hiding from it – the incident with Draymond and Jordan at the beginning of the year played a role in that.