Draymond Green will start for the Warriors in their season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night at Chase Center, and that's because he wasn't suspended for punching Jordan Poole during practice on Oct. 5.
Warriors CEO Joe Lacob joined "Warriors Live" on NBC Sports Bay Area shortly before tip-off and was asked about the incident that coach Steve Kerr labeled the "biggest crisis" of his tenure.
"I have to be honest, really honest," Lacob told Bonta Hill, Chris Mullin and Festus Ezeli. "I was not all that flustered by it. It's obviously a serious situation. No one wants to see that happen in any workplace, no question about it. And I know Draymond knows that. He's apologized to the team and to management and to me and everybody. It was a mistake but he's earned a lot of equity over a long period of time with us."
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Green was fined by the Warriors and spent less than a week from the team before returning prior to the preseason finale.
Lacob offered insight into why the Warriors chose not to suspend Green.
"That's why, everyone asks, why is he not suspended for ring night?" Lacob said. "Well, look, I'm just being perfectly honest, he earned this. I wouldn't take that away from him. We take it seriously. Believe me. He was fined to the maximum and he took some time away from the team. He's obviously got some repair work to do. We all know that. He knows that. But we believe in Draymond. We believe in the team culture and we're going to go forward."
Green and Poole played together during the final preseason game last Friday and there was no apparent friction. After Poole signed a four-year contract extension Sunday, he spoke to reporters and made a brief statement about the incident, noting that he didn't want to talk about the issue any further.
Golden State Warriors
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For now, the Warriors are focused on defending their 2022 NBA title. Poole made it clear he and Green are here to win basketball games and try to add to their collection of championship rings.
After avoiding a suspension, Green will pick up his fourth championship ring Tuesday night while Poole will get his first.