The NBA has imposed an indefinite suspension on Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green for striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face during Tuesday night’s game. Green received a flagrant foul 2 and was ejected for the third time this season.
The league cited Green’s repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts for the indefinite suspension, requiring him to meet specific conditions before returning to play.
This marks Green’s second suspension this season. He has three ejections so far, tying his most in a season. The first occurred on November 11 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the second was on November 14 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. After the latter incident, Green received a five-game suspension, taking into account his history as a repeat offender.
Green will be docked $153,941 per game if the suspension is fewer than 20 games and $202,922 per game if it exceeds 20 games. The Warriors, struggling with a 10-13 record, emphasized the importance of having Green on the court, especially with key players like Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins facing challenges.
In response to the suspension, Green expressed regret, stating that he didn’t intend to hit Nurkić. The Warriors, recognizing the significance of Green’s presence, have made it clear that they need him on the floor.
The NBA’s operations chief, Joe Dumars, imposed the suspension immediately, and discussions about counseling and assistance for Green’s forward path are expected to take place between Green, Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr., and Green’s agent, Rich Paul.
Green’s actions have stirred discussions about accountability within the Warriors organization, and the team plans to address the suspension at the upcoming shootaround ahead of their game against the Clippers. Green, 33, holds the record for the most ejections among active NBA players, with a total of 18 in his career.
Source: -ESPN
