NBA Hands Draymond Green Indefinite Suspension After Clash with Nurkic

janimonow

Dec 14

Draymond Green, the renowned Golden State Warriors player, has been suspended indefinitely by the NBA following an incident with Jusuf Nurkic of the Phoenix Suns. This suspension, marking Green's third ejection of the season, resulted from a clash where he struck Nurkic in the head, leading to a flagrant foul. The NBA cited Green's "repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts" as the basis for the open-ended ban.

In the aftermath of the incident, Green expressed regret, acknowledging that while he intended to win a foul call by swinging his arm, he did not mean to hit Nurkic. He offered an apology, a rare move for him, stating that it was unintentional. On the other hand, Nurkic criticized Green's actions, suggesting that he needs help and expressing bewilderment at Green's behavior.

This suspension is not Green's first brush with NBA disciplinary actions. His history includes a five-game suspension for a second ejection earlier this season during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he grabbed Rudy Gobert in a headlock. Additionally, Green has been ejected for incidents involving Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings and Brandon Clarke of the Memphis Grizzlies. Perhaps most notably, he was suspended during the 2016 NBA Finals for a low blow against LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The suspension of Green is a significant development in the NBA, as he is a pivotal player for the Golden State Warriors and a four-time NBA champion. His absence from the team, especially given the indefinite nature of the suspension, could have substantial implications for the Warriors' performance in the ongoing season.