Top 5 NBA Teammate Fights After Poole & Green Come To Blows With Golden Gate Warriors – Basketball Insiders

Fights in basketball are a common thing in the NBA today. However, when they are between players on the same team, that becomes more rare. They usually take place behind closed doors, away from the eye of the common fan, but they can get rough.

Recently, the fight between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors has dominated the NBA headlines. And with Green absent from the team, the fight has left his future with the team up in the air. But there is more to review in NBA history.

Bobby Portis vs. Nikola Mirotic – Chicago Bulls 2017-18

Going into the 2017-18 season, Portis and Mirotic were competing for the Chicago Bulls’ starting power forward job. The competition has been heating up during camp, as the two forwards have been competing for playing time for years. Things came to a boil on October 17, when Mirotic charged at Portis twice before Portis punched him in the face. Mirotic was left with facial fractures and a concussion, which sidelined him for the first 23 games of the season and Portis was suspended for the first 8.

As a result of the fight, Mirotic was traded to New Orleans less than a year later. While Portis has apologized publicly and privately, his relationship off the court has never recovered.

Portis recalls the Mirotic altercation: “I’m sorry about what happened. We tried to be professional, to make things work on the pitch. We did that. Off the pitch, we never spoke. We played cards (on the plane) once. It was a bit awkward. So we don’t play anymore.”

— KC Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 2, 2018

Kobe Bryant vs. Shaquille O’Neal – Los Angeles Lakers 1999

Widely considered one of the greatest duos of all time, the troubles between Kobe and Shaq are well documented. While they won multiple championships along with the Lakers, they were also in the midst of a years-long feud. Ultimately, the feud led O’Neal to want a trade, when he was traded to Miami.

Years after their retirement, the two recounted an instance of throwing blows at each other during their 1-on-1 interview in 2018.

“We were playing an impromptu game during the lockout season,” Bryant recalled. “He was talking trash and I looked around and realized ‘he was talking to me.’ I say, ‘there’s not going to be any more of that, and then the next thing I know a big hand is going one way and I’m going the other way.’ throw a [little punch] And then it fell apart.”

Bryant also spoke about the fight during his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. I couldn’t contact him,” he said jokingly. “I could lose this fight, but you know I’m not going to back down.” Bryant also added that he and O’Neal continued their game afterwards.

Michael Jordan vs. Steve Kerr – Chicago Bulls 1995

There was a lot of behind the scenes information given in the Last Dance documentary. One of them is an account of a fight between Michael Jordan and Steve Kerr in practice.

“I just walked away and hit him right in the fucking eye. And Phil just takes me out of practice.”

Episodes 7 and 8 air next Sunday at 9pm ET on ESPN 📺 #The last Dance pic.twitter.com/ONZAnjlcbc

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 4, 2020

Phil [Jackson] he feels my aggressiveness, but he’s trying to tone me down by pointing out these tack faults,” Jordan said. “The next time I do it, I’m mad at Steve Kerr. When I foul him, I’m like ‘now that’s a fucking foul.’”

In the segment, Kerr mentions that while he has a lot of patience, he does have moments where he snaps. Jordan adds that Kerr punched him in the chest before he responded with a punch to the eye before head coach Phil Jackson walked him out of practice.

Evan Turner vs. Lance Stephenson – Indiana Pacers 2013-14

Tensions can arise very easily during the postseason. The 2014 Indiana Pacers were preparing for their first-round series against Atlanta when Evan Turner parted ways with Lance Stephenson after a fistfight.

Then-Yahoo Sports reporter Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the altercation was a buildup of frustration weeks before the playoffs, along with players becoming frustrated with Stephenson’s temper. The Pacers crushed the Hawks in 7 games before being eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Anthony Davis vs. Dwight Howard – Los Angeles Lakers 2021-22

The 2022 season was very frustrating for Lakers fans and players alike. Earlier in the season, there was a bench fight between star forward Anthony Davis and center Dwight Howard. Both players dismissed it in the postgame as if it wasn’t a real problem.

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AD and Dwight Howard got into a fight on the bench during a Lakers timeout 👀

(via @ActionNetworkHQ)pic.twitter.com/w88Cg6rvLw

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 23, 2021

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“We crushed him right then and there,” Howard said. “We had a disagreement about something that was on the ground. We are both very passionate about winning. We didn’t want to lose this game. … We are grown men. Things happen, but we’ve already crushed it. There are no problems.

Draymond Green vs. Jordan Poole – Golden State Warriors 2022-23

The most recent fight and the inspiration for this article. The preseason has been eventful for the defending champion Golden State Warriors. Leaked video shows Green walking up to Poole’s face and then throwing a punch as he is shoved. Green was absent from the team and his future with the team has been a hot topic in NBA circles.

Green has added that his personal problems and mental state contributed to his actions and the reason he was absent.

“That day that it took place, I was in a very, very bad space mentally,” Green said. “As the leader of this team, I needed to get a better sense of myself and just know and understand where the end of my mecha was and what could lead me down the wrong path. Frankly, I didn’t handle it well and failed as a leader. I failed as a man and I failed as a leader.”

The Warriors plan to discipline Green internally, but there has been no reported news of a suspension or fine.