LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Golden State Warriors believe Draymond Green needs help to curb his long history of rough play, and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. hopes the indefinite suspension will buy enough time for their star forward to make real progress.
Dunleavy said Thursday that the team is satisfied with the NBA’s latest punishment of Green, a four-time NBA champion who was suspended indefinitely on Wednesday after punching Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkic in the face. The suspension was the sixth of Green’s career and the fourth of 2023.
“I think that’s something that a lot of people might see as a problem, but we’re looking to turn it into something positive,” Dunleavy said on the UCLA campus during the Warriors’ morning shootout before their game against the Clippers.
“(Green’s) at a point in his career and his life where we want to get some things right, and maybe sometimes you need a jolt like that. But I think things have been very positive, very open, and (we’re) very optimistic that we can get where we want to go.” going”.
Dunleavy has repeatedly said the Warriors will “help” Green during his absence, but he did not specify what that help might be. Green will be around the Warriors extensively during his suspension, although he cannot be with the team on game nights.
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“The thought process is there are a lot of ways you can do this, but right now, we think the healthiest thing is to be there,” Dunleavy said. “It may not be like that every day, but we’re not going to abandon the guy somewhere.”
Dunleavy also unequivocally confirmed that the Warriors are committed to the 33-year-old Green, who is in the first season of a four-year, $100 million contract. Although Dunleavy clearly said Golden State’s starting lineup didn’t play well enough during the team’s 10-13 start, he praised the play of Stephen Curry and Green.
“He’s been here a long time,” Dunleavy said of Green. “He’s hung a lot of banners and means a lot to this organization. I think it’s about turning this thing into a positive and getting better. I think it’s happening, and we feel really good. Like I said, his game was great. It’s his lack of availability that’s not great; And we want to make it better.
Dunleavy said the Green Warriors had discussions with the NBA about the nature of the suspension before it was announced this week, and all parties agreed to the suspension indefinitely. Dunleavy said there are no foolproof standards for the length of the ban.
“I hope Draymond gets the help he needs,” Phoenix star Kevin Durant and Green’s former Golden State teammate said after the suspension was issued on Wednesday. “I know Draymond. He wasn’t like that when I was around him and coming into the league. Hopefully he gets the help he needs and gets back on the court and puts all this stuff behind him.”
The Warriors had lost 11 of 15 games before their meeting with the resurgent Clippers, and Dunleavy noted that the team’s next 15 to 20 games will play a major role in determining whether Golden State needs to make big roster moves.
Entering Thursday, not only would Golden State — winner of four NBA titles in the past nine years and a team that was widely expected to compete for one this season — not be in the playoffs, but the Warriors wouldn’t even qualify for the tournament. Playing in the tournament.
“We’re going to try to fill that gap until he comes back,” said Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, whose minutes will likely increase in Green’s absence. “But all this time, we’re all supporting Draymond. We’re all communicating. We’re all helping him. We’re just going through this moment. Whatever happens will happen, but we will always remain professional and do our best to help our team win in the meantime waiting for Draymond to come back.”
Green’s absence comes with the Warriors already in trouble territory early in the season. They blew a fourth-quarter run, and haven’t won a game by double digits in more than a month while needing a starting nine to get through the first 23 games of the season.
Klay Thompson struggled offensively after failing to agree to an extension last summer, and was then benched at the end of Tuesday’s game in Phoenix. Andrew Wiggins’ numbers are a far cry from his career standards and last season’s standards.
Now they will be without Green, their top defensive player and versatile leader.
Missing games will also come at a significant financial cost to Green. The first five-game suspension of the season forced him to forfeit $769,704, and that suspension will cost him roughly $150,000 per game if it’s less than 20 games, and about $200,000 per game after that.
The Warriors also plan to save at least $500,000 per game on their luxury tax bill for each game he misses.
Compounding Green’s woes, the suspension almost certainly means he won’t play in 65 games, which, in most cases, would be required for a player to be eligible for postseason awards under the NBA’s new participation policies, meaning his annual spot In second place. It now seems that the entire defensive team is in serious danger. And it will certainly be part of what USA Basketball takes into consideration when determining whether Green, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, deserves a spot on the team going to next year’s Paris Games.
Golden State’s Steve Kerr will coach the Olympic team, and Green has indicated his desire to play. Speaking about his role as an analyst for TNT earlier this week, Grant Hill – the managing director of the US Basketball Association – said Green’s hit on Jurkic was “disappointing”.
“He has to use better judgment in this situation,” Hill said.
AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.
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The Golden State Warriors have announced their support for Draymond Green, who has been suspended indefinitely following an altercation with teammate Kevin Durant. The team has assured that Green will receive the necessary support and assistance during this time. Despite the suspension, the Warriors are standing by their commitment to Green and are hopeful for his return to the court in the future. This incident has brought attention to the team’s internal dynamics and the importance of addressing conflict and relationships within the organization.