The Golden State Warriors‘ run to defend the NBA title ended abruptly as the Los Angeles Lakers ousted them in the Conference Semi-Finals. Besides, several concerns are looming around the Golden State core’s future. Apparently, the hoops world pays close attention to the response and thoughts of every other Dubs star after the Game 6 loss. In one such response, a 30-year-old Warriors star went candid about the Warriors’ locker room air. Moreover, he also shed light on the infamous punching incident involving Draymond Green and Jordan Poole.

After remaining silent about the punch throughout the season, Jordan Poole has opened up about the incident after the Warriors’ exit. As the infamous saga has once again become a hot topic in NBA circles, Warriors’ Gary Payton II, who saw the punch from afar then, has also given his two cents on the physical altercation.

A Golden State star addresses the Draymond Green-Jordan Poole saga

Despite having a decent stint during the regular season, Jordan Poole failed to perform up to the mark during the playoffs. Some have even speculated that Draymond Green’s punch has had a negative impact on Poole and his postseason form. Besides, there were also speculations about tensions within the Warriors’ locker room. Gary Payton II has now spoken about the “vibe” within the Golden State locker room, and he also touched up on Draymond Green’s punch.

Gary Payton II has earned stripes of both the veterans and youngsters from the Dubs’ camp. Apparently, he was asked in a post-game interview about the changes he saw in the Warriors’ locker room after his return from the Trail Blazers. “The vibe was a little different, obviously. When I got here, everybody was themselves, you know, just trying to figure it out, and continue to do what we had to do for the rest of the season, it’s just different vibe,” he said.

Gary Payton II had seen the punching incident that happened in October, from afar. The 2022 NBA champion then went on to address that altercation in the post-game interaction.?“You know, it’s basketball. Guys are competitive and have emotions. You know, things happen, I have had fights with my little brother lot of times, and the end of the day we are brothers,” Payton II added.

Jordan Poole also addressed the sucker punch incident

Back in October, before the regular season started, Draymond Green and Jordan Poole exchanged heated words from a distance, during a practice session. Subsequently, the altercation got physical and Green ended punching Poole. The episode again became the talk of the town in the hoops world after some started to speculate that the punch and locker room tensions have affected JP’s playoff performances. However, the 23-year-old star says no.

READ MORE: After Wobbling Off the Court in Pain, Draymond Green Gets Stinging Reality Check From Vital Warriors Team Member: ?You Go Back Out There?You Tear??

Poole said during a post-game interview after Game 6 that the punch has not had any impact on his playoff performances. He added, it is an incident of the past. Moreover, he also told the media that the Warriors’ run was not so bad altogether as they made it to the Conference Semi-Finals.

WATCH THIS STORY: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, James Harden, and other NBA stars having the most games with 10 three-pointers