Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green has been slapped with a fine for punching teammate Jordan Poole, but he has escaped a suspension.
Footage was leaked of a training confrontation between the two players, during which Green squared up to Poole, and the latter responded by pushing his teammate away.
Green immediately delivered a punch to Poole's head before teammates and staff broke up the quarrel, but he will not serve a suspension and has apologised to Poole and the rest of the team.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr confirmed to the press that Green would still be hit with a fine, and he described the incident as the "biggest crisis" of his tenure with the reigning NBA champions.
"This is the biggest crisis we've had since I've been coach here. It's really serious stuff," Kerr said. "We're not perfect, but we're going to lean on the experience that we have together over the last nine years and trust that this is the best decision for our team [not to suspend Green].
Green, who won his fourth NBA title with the Warriors last year after their victory over Boston Celtics in the Finals, admitted that he had been left "hugely embarrassed" after the video emerged online.
"There's a huge embarrassment that comes with it. Not only for myself, that's something I'll have to deal with, but the embarrassment that Jordan has to deal with and that this team has to deal with, this organisation has to deal with. Also Jordan's family - his family saw that video. His mother, his father saw that video," Green added.
The Warriors begin the defence of their NBA title with a home tie against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday October 18.
Ben Knapton
