Draymond Green faces indefinite suspension from NBA
Photo: Draymond Green faces indefinite suspension from NBA (Getty Images)
The NBA has suspended Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green indefinitely following his recent on-court altercation with Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić. This suspension was announced less than 24 hours after the incident. It is Green's second this season and will require him to meet specific league and team conditions before returning to play.
During a game against the Phoenix Suns, Green was ejected after hitting Nurkić in the face, leading to a Flagrant 2 foul and automatic suspension. This incident occurred as Green and Nurkić were jostling for position early in the third quarter, with Green appearing to lose his balance before striking Nurkić.
This suspension comes on the heels of another five-game suspension Green received for putting Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves into a headlock during a game in November.
The NBA's decision considers Green's history of unsportsmanlike conduct, as this was his 18th career ejection, the most among active NBA players.
Draymond Green (Photo: Getty Images)
Draymond Green's controversies
Draymond Green, the Golden State Warriors forward, has been involved in multiple suspensions and controversial incidents throughout his career. Some notable instances include:
- 2016 NBA Finals Suspension. Green was suspended for Game 5 after an altercation with LeBron James, where he made contact with James' groin area. This suspension is often cited as a turning point in the Finals, which the Warriors ultimately lost;
- 2018-19 Season. Green was suspended for a game due to an altercation with teammate Kevin Durant;
- 2022-23 Season. He faced a fine, not a suspension, for punching teammate Jordan Poole during a preseason practice;
- 2022-23 Season Technical Foul Suspension. Green was suspended for a game after accumulating 16 technical fouls during the season;
- 2023-24 Season. Green received a five-game suspension for putting Rudy Gobert in a headlock during a game against the Timberwolves.
In addition to these incidents, Green has been involved in other controversial plays and altercations, resulting in fines and technical fouls over his career.
NBA's commitment
Draymond Green's history of on-court incidents and unsportsmanlike behavior has been a recurring theme throughout his NBA career. His aggressive style of play has often led to altercations with other players and subsequent disciplinary actions by the league.
The indefinite suspension reflects the NBA's stance on player conduct and its commitment to maintaining sportsmanship and safety on the court.
Previous similar suspensions in the NBA, like Gilbert Arenas's in 2010 for bringing firearms into the locker room, show that the league takes such matters seriously and is willing to impose significant penalties for actions it deems detrimental to the sport and its professional environment.
Also, we recently wrote that Ukrainian National Basketball Team star Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk signed a contract with the most titled NBA club.
