SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was suspended indefinitely by the NBA on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after he hit Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face and was given a flagrant 2 foul and ejected.
The league said the penalty imposed by Chief Operating Officer Joe Dumars begins immediately. This is already Green’s second suspension this season.
“He will be required to meet certain conditions in the league and the team before he returns to play,” the league said.
“This finding takes into account Green’s repeated history of unsportsmanlike conduct,” the NBA noted.
The Warriors had no statement on Wednesday, but said Green’s suspension would be addressed during Thursday’s shootout in Los Angeles before the game against the Clippers.
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The 33-year-old Green, a four-time Warriors starter, was ejected for the 18th time in his career — the most among active NBA players.
As the Warriors were shooting the ball near the bench early in the third quarter in a 119-116 loss to Phoenix, Green and Nurkic were jockeying for position near the corner of the baseline and the two tangled. Green appeared to slide a little and then circle around Nurkic and connect with his right arm in the big man’s face.
Nurkic immediately fell to the ground and stayed down briefly before getting up to stay in the game.
“It had nothing to do with basketball,” Nurkic said. “I’m just out there trying to play basketball.”
There is little precedent for indefinite suspension. In 2010, then-commissioner David Stern suspended Washington guard Gilbert Arenas indefinitely for bringing firearms into the team’s locker room. That was the precursor to what became Arenas’ 50-game suspension, after Stern said his “continued conduct … has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to play an NBA game.”
Last season during training camp, Green was placed on leave by the 2022 NBA champions in what coach Steve Kerr described as a “mutual decision” after the star forward violently punched then-teammate Jordan Poole in the face. None of the players were injured.
New Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said after last season that he was committed to keeping Green, who shortly received a new four-year, $100 million contract in late June. Kerr has always said he likes Green’s fiery, boundary-pushing style of play – but it will be interesting to see how both sides overcome this latest discipline.
Last spring, Green was suspended during a Game 3 playoff loss against the Sacramento Kings after he stepped on Domantas Sabonis’ chest during a Game 2 defeat. The Warriors became the first defending champions to rally from a 0-2 deficit to win a playoff series.
Golden State suspended Green for one game in November 2018 for conduct detrimental to the team. In the final seconds of regulation during a 121-116 overtime loss on the road to the Clippers, Green grabbed a rebound and with Kevin Durant demanding the ball instead, dribbled the length of the court in traffic and lost control as the Warriors failed to get the ball. shot. Durant appeared on camera looking visibly upset and the two then got into it.
In 2016, Green was suspended for a crucial Game 5 loss to LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals after accumulating too many flagrant fouls in the playoffs that season. The Warriors ended up losing in seven games. GM Bob Myers then sat with Green next to Oracle Arena at the Oakland Coliseum for that game that Green missed.
A second-round pick in 2012 out of Michigan State, Green averaged 9.7 points, 5.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 15 games this season. He has repeatedly said recently how the chemistry has improved a lot this season. Paul was traded to Washington on draft day in exchange for Chris Paul.
“It was hard to come to work” and “not fun,” Green said.
“Last year we had a very bad team in terms of chemistry – which is pathetic,” he said. “You look at last year and say, ‘Oh man, this team never lost a Western Conference series under Steve Kerr.’ And then it happens. The big reason is because our chemistry is bad.”
AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this report.
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The NBA recently announced the indefinite suspension of Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green, sparking controversy and speculation among sports fans and analysts. Known for his aggressive playing style and strong personality on and off the court, Green has been a key player for the Warriors and his absence will undoubtedly have an impact on the team’s performance. This unexpected suspension has raised questions about the reasons behind it and has left fans wondering when they will see Green back in action.