The Draymond Green-Jordan Poole beef appears to be unresolved, as the two went back and forth during the Warriors’ win over the Wizards on Monday.
But, that didn’t stop Dray from giving Poole his flowers when the dust settled.
“He’s playing better. “He’s playing a lot better,” Green said. “I think his shot selection, you know, he’s coming into a new situation – I’ve never done it – but I’ve watched it a lot, as a competitor, he just wants to show what he can do. He wants to show that he’s a guy.
“And I think that last year he was very pushy, he wanted it to happen very badly. And this year he is very stable. He doesn’t take the same shots he did last year. They were bad guns. I don’t see that it was a matter of selfishness, I see that it is a matter of wanting it worse to prove to people that I can have my team, I can come here and succeed, that it ends up working against you. . But this year, he’s doing a lot better.”
Of course, Green was the reason Poole was traded away from Golden State, after his notorious punching caused Poole to endure the worst season of his career.
During Monday’s game, Poole rekindled things between the two after he pointed at Green as he hit a three. Green later came back when Steph hit a shot.
After the three-pointer, Jordan Poole pointed to Draymond Green, who returned the point to Poole just seconds after Steph’s three.
It’s like the beef is still alive 😂
🎥 @SportsCenterpic.twitter.com/GAi615Ojvo
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) November 5, 2024
However, Green was not shy about continuing to praise Poole after finishing with 24 points, rebounds, 3 assists and three big steals and four blocks in 34 minutes of play.
“He had one result tonight. That speaks to the patience with which he plays now,” said Green. “So I think he’s doing a great job of settling down now and letting the game come to him, not chasing it like he did last year. But he’d rather have a guy chasing him and trying to break in than a guy coming in and saying, ‘Well, I don’t have one.’
“So I think he’s starting to show himself now who he is and how he’s grown in this league compared to last year, he just wanted it badly. I think he’s doing a much better job this year.”
