Highlights
- Draymond Green has been suspended indefinitely for striking Nurkic in the head.
- Green will undergo counseling and work with the Warriors during suspension to work on paths to return.
- The NBA didn't give a set number of games for suspension, allowing Green time to address his problems.
The NBA has suspended Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors for striking Jusuf Nurkic in the head during a game against the Phoenix Suns.
In a press release, the league revealed that Green will have "to meet certain league and team conditions before he returns to play."
According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Green will have to undergo counseling and "work with the Warriors" during his suspension.
Green's road to return
The NBA is giving him time to address his issues
Shortly after the league's announcement, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Green, his agent Rich Paul, and Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr., would meet on Thursday, Dec. 14 to speak about the counseling and how Green can take the appropriate steps before making his return.
Wojnarowski also said the league didn't feel comfortable putting a set number of games on the suspension as they wanted to ensure Green had time to address any issues he may be dealing with.
The incident occurred during the Dec. 12 game between the Warriors and Suns when Green and Nurkic were tied up during a play. Green started flailing his arms and subsequently hit Nurkic in the face. The referees assessed the play and handed the Warriors forward a flagrant two foul, effectively removing him from the game.
At the post-game press conference, Nurkic addressed his tussle with Green.
"What's going on with him, I don't know. Personally, I feel like that brother needed help. I'm glad he didn't try to choke me, but at the same time, it had nothing to do with basketball. I'm just out there trying to play basketball. Hope whatever he got in his life gets better."
In reaction to the incident, Green's former teammate Nick Young called Green "a cheap shot guy."
Warriors' struggles continue amid roster dysfunctions
The team sits outside of a Play-In spot with a 10-13 record
The Warriors, ever reliant on their starting lineup, have found themselves struggling to put wins together and build on their waning chemistry. The core that won them their four rings may still be together, but they are a shell of what they used to be.
Well, only two-thirds of them.
Golden State Warriors - 2023-24 Core four statistics |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Stephen Curry |
Klay Thompson |
Draymond Green |
Andrew Wiggins |
|
Points |
29.1 |
15.4 |
9.7 |
12.1 |
Rebounds |
5.0 |
4.0 |
5.5 |
4.4 |
Assists |
4.4 |
2.0 |
5.8 |
1.1 |
Field goal % |
46.8 |
39.7 |
49.0 |
41.3 |
Three-point field goal % |
42.7 |
34.3 |
42.9 |
27.9 |
Stephen Curry is still as elite as he normally is and the addition of Chris Paul has removed some of the playmaking burden that he's had to carry for years without a true backup guard. Klay Thompson and Green, on the other hand, have seemingly begun their downward trajectory and they've shown it in their play.
Thompson simply isn't scoring the way he used to and Green keeps finding ways to get himself ejected and suspended from games. The latter seems particularly desperate to cling onto his rugged defender persona, but other players don't seem to be buying into it.
Green's former teammate Kevin Durant also spoke on the ordeal.
"That was insane to see. Glad Nurk is alright. Never seen that before on a basketball court in an NBA game. I hope Draymond gets the help he needs. It's been incident after incident. I know Draymond, and he hasn't been that way when I was around coming into the league.
The Warriors will play their first game without Green on Dec. 14 when they suit up against the Los Angeles Clippers.