Punch Video Published by TMZ

On October 7, 2022, TMZ Sports released a leaked video from the Warriors’ October 5 practice, providing the first public look at the altercation between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole. The clip shows Green walking toward Poole, the two going face-to-face, Poole extending his arms to shove Green, and Green immediately throwing a right-handed punch to Poole’s face that knocks him backward as teammates and staff rush in [1]. TMZ characterized the footage starkly: “Shocking video shows Draymond Green violently attacking Jordan Poole, viciously punching him to the ground right in the middle of a team practice” [1]. The Warriors had already been reviewing discipline since news of the scuffle emerged via The Athletic and AP reports on October 6, but the video’s publication amplified scrutiny and debate over appropriate punishment [6,1]. Around the same time, Stephen Curry addressed circulating theories that Poole’s attitude during contract talks had caused the confrontation, calling that framing “absolute BS” on October 6 [5]. With the video now public, media coverage accelerated, social media reaction surged, and the question shifted from whether a punch occurred to how the team and Green would respond on the record. The leak also raised internal concerns about privacy and information security, while solidifying public understanding of the sequence—approach, shove, and punch—within seconds. Within 24 hours, Green would convene a press session to apologize and announce he would step away for a few days, citing the need to give Poole and the team space [2,9].

The video leak made the altercation undeniable to the public and reframed the story from an internal matter to a widely scrutinized episode. Visual evidence shaped perceptions of intent, severity, and accountability, placing greater pressure on team leadership ahead of the season opener. Curry’s debunking of contract-motive rumors ran alongside the clip’s circulation, but the imagery itself became the narrative anchor for fans and commentators [5,1]. The incident moved from rumor control to reputation management for Green, organizational crisis response for the Warriors, and an uncomfortable spotlight for Poole as the team’s young guard at the center of the footage [1,5].

The day after the video surfaced, October 8, Draymond Green addressed reporters, apologized to Poole and the team, and announced he would step away temporarily, saying, “I’m going to continue to stay away... give Jordan some space... I do want to give my team some space” [2]. He also stated the looming contract situation “had nothing” to do with the punch [9] and reflected, “Hurt people hurt people. I hurt someone because I was in a place of hurt” [3]. On October 12, head coach Steve Kerr announced that Green would receive a “major fine” but no suspension and labeled the episode “the biggest crisis” of his coaching tenure [4]. The leak continued to influence public discussion well into the 2022–23 season and beyond, including later commentary by Green in 2023 and renewed apologies in 2025 [7,10,11].