Warriors star Draymond Green has been indefinitely suspended by the National Basketball Association (NBA) on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after he struck Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face and received a flagrant foul of the second degree, resulting in his ejection from the game.
Details of the Suspension
The league announced that the punishment imposed by President of Operations Joe Dumars will take effect immediately. This is Green’s second suspension this season.
The league stated, “He will have to meet certain conditions imposed by the league and the team before returning to play.”
The National Basketball Association noted that “this outcome takes into account Green’s repeated history of unsportsmanlike conduct.”
History of Previous Suspensions
Green was suspended for five games by the National Basketball Association for placing Minnesota player Rudy Gobert in a headlock during an incident in November.
There is not much precedent for an indefinite suspension. In 2010, former commissioner David Stern indefinitely suspended Washington guard Gilbert Arenas for bringing firearms into the locker room. That led to what became a 50-game suspension for Arenas after Stern said, “his continued behavior … led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to play in an NBA game.”
Impact of the Suspension on the Team
The Warriors did not issue a statement on Wednesday but said that Green’s suspension would be discussed at practice on Thursday in Los Angeles before a game against the Clippers.
The 33-year-old Green, who is in his fourth championship run with the Warriors, was ejected for the 18th time in his career – the most among active NBA players.
In the third quarter of the game the Warriors lost 119-116 to the Suns in Phoenix, Green and Nurkić were fighting for position near the baseline corner and tangled together. Green appeared to slip slightly, then turned around and connected his right arm to the big man’s face.
Nurkić fell to the ground immediately and stayed there for a short while before continuing to play.
Nurkić said, “This had nothing to do with basketball. I’m just trying to play basketball.”
Impact of the Suspension on Green and the Team
Last season during training camp, Green took time off from the 2022 championship team in a “mutual” decision that coach Steve Kerr described after he violently struck forward Jordan Poole in the face. Neither player was injured.
Mike Dunleavy, the new general manager of the Warriors, said when he got the job after last season that he was committed to retaining Green, who shortly thereafter received a new four-year, $100 million contract at the end of June.
Kerr has always said he loves Green’s fiery style that crosses the line – but it will be interesting to see how both sides handle this latest discipline.
Impact of the Suspension on the Team
Last spring, Green was suspended for his fight in Game 3 against the Kings after he stepped on Domantas Sabonis’ chest during a loss in Game 2. The Warriors became the first champion to defend its title after being down 0-2 to win a playoff series.
The Warriors suspended Green for one game in November 2018 due to detrimental conduct to the team. In the closing seconds of regulation during a 121-116 overtime loss in an away game against the Clippers, Green grabbed a rebound and, rather than passing the ball to Kevin Durant who was calling for it, dribbled the ball down the court and lost control, as the Warriors failed to get a shot off. Cameras showed Durant visibly angry, and the two got into an altercation afterward.
In
In 2016, Green was suspended for a critical loss in game 5 against LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals after accumulating several flagrant fouls in the playoffs during that time. The Warriors ultimately lost in seven games. Former general manager Bob Myers sat down with Green next to Oracle Arena in Oakland Coliseum for the game that Green missed.
Green’s Statistics and the Impact of Suspension
After being selected in the second round of the draft in 2012 from Michigan State University, Green averages 9.7 points, 5.8 assists, and 5.5 rebounds over 15 games this season. He has recently stated repeatedly that the chemistry has improved significantly this season. Paul was traded to Washington on trade day for Chris Paul.
Green said it “was hard to come to work” and “wasn’t fun.”
This article was written by Janie McCauley and updated at [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year].
Source: AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
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