What Jordan Poole allegedly said to Draymond Green before punch
No one has revealed what Jordan Poole said before Draymond Green punched him last year. Until now.
On "Pablo Torre Finds Out," documentary filmmaker Ezra Edelman revealed what Poole allegedly said that set Green off: "You're an expensive backpack for 30."
"30" refers to the Golden State Warriors' No. 30, Steph Curry. The "expensive" comment, it may have struck home because at the time, both Green and Poole were seeking contract extensions from the Warriors — and due to the salary cap, it didn't look like the Golden State Warriors would pay both. As for the "backpack" part, clearly Poole meant that Curry was carrying Green to his success.
There's also a popular meme based on the idea that Green looks like he's wearing a backpack when he shoots a jumper.
It's common enough that when Green hits a three-pointer in the playoffs, no one needs further explanation of the term "backpack triple."
Torre believes that the phrase was "plausibly the trigger that set off the demolition of a dynasty... This punch was a crossroads. I think this crossroads landed on Jordan Poole, and this was the moment that nine-figure decisions were made."
One of those nine-figure decisions was the Warriors' decision to trade Poole to the Washington Wizards for Chris Paul, before Poole's extension even kicked in. Days later, Green signed a new contract to stay with Golden State. Green took a pay cut, so he's a less expensive "backpack" than Poole next season, by about five million dollars.
As well-crafted as Poole's insult was, he may regret saying it. Green's punch was wildly inappropriate and over the top, but he didn't consider one crucial thing. Steph Curry likes having Green protecting his back.
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