Perpetually triggered NBA star says he can't be triggered
Draymond Green says he doesn't just hit people — except for all those times he hits people.
On Patrick Beverley's podcast, Green talked about punching Jordan Poole last year. He suggested that Poole deserved the sucker punch without providing details and made some bold claims abut his own temperament.
"I don't just hit people," Green asserted. "You usually ain't just triggered by something that fast, to that degree. Ain't nobody on my team triggering me in an instant."
Green hit Poole during a preseason practice, a moment that went viral after someone leaked the video to TMZ. The Warriors declined to suspend Green afterward, though coach Steve Kerr told reporters the incident "compromised" their season. Last month, Golden State traded Poole to Washington for Chris Paul.
While Green says he doesn't get "triggered," his history reveals the opposite. Last year, the NBA suspended Green after he stomped on Kings big man Domantas Sabonis' chest during a playoff game. That's a year after officials ejected Green from a playoff game for two flagrant fouls and seven years after Green hit LeBron James below the belt during a Finals game and got suspended for Game 5.
In fact, there's a long list of people who have triggered Green over the years.
- Dillon Brooks talking trash
- Bradley Beal blocking out
- A referee who didn't understand the verticality rule
- Steven Adams simply having a groin to kick
- A Michigan State football player who complained about Green bumping him
Historically, Green does just hit people sometimes, and he doesn't refrain from exploding on someone, even when it's his teammate. For instance, Kevin Durant triggered him by complaining that Green didn't pass to him on a last-second play.
What really happened before Green punched Poole? The Warriors power forward still won't say, except to imply that Poole said "stuff you don't say amongst men."
His reluctance to share the specifics, even after Poole is gone, suggests that Green doesn't actually believe what Poole said to him justified the punch.
Green re-signed for four more years with the Warriors this summer. He's still an important part of the team's quest to win another title, whether it's leading the defense or "triggering" the offense.
While Green takes a lot of responsibility for the team's performance, he's refusing to do the same with his own outbursts.
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