Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is set to face consequences for his recent on-court controversy after hitting Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic on the head during the third quarter of their game held on Tuesday, December 12, at the Footprint Center in Phoenix.
The 6-foot-6 power forward was ejected from the game following an evaluation by the officials, who assigned a Flagrant Foul Penalty 2.
Green's ejection marked the 18th occurrence in his career, standing as the highest among active NBA players and the second-highest in league history, trailing only Rasheed Wallace.
The 33-year-old has now been suspended by the NBA indefinitely, according to a press release a day after the incident. He must fulfill specific league and team conditions before being permitted to resume playing.
The league opted not to specify a particular duration for the suspension. Instead, it encouraged Green to take the time he might require to address the challenges he currently faces, per league insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Year will work with his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., and the NBA for a plan regarding counseling and assistance to help him move forward.
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3 Reasons The NBA Is Right on Draymond Green's Indefinite Suspension
1. Draymond Green will need to get his act straight.
Given the absence of a specific timeline for his suspension, Green will need to address the issues at hand to make a return to action.
Green had previously received a five-game suspension for placing Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock last month.
However, this prior disciplinary action has been ineffective, as Green has demonstrated little remorse and repeated similar actions with Nurkic.
2. The NBA is helping Draymond Green.
The significant aspect of this decision is that rather than assigning a specific number of games for Green's suspension; the league is collaborating with influential figures in his circle, including his agent, Rich Paul, and Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., to genuinely assist him in making positive changes through various channels.
It recognizes that simply imposing a monetary fine or specifying a suspension duration may not be sufficient for a meaningful transformation.
"I think this is something that a lot of people may see as a problem, but we're looking to turn it into a positive," Dunleavy said about the situation during a recent team shootaround.
3. We are sending a message to the rest of the league.
Green's suspension could function as a cautionary tale for other players, emphasizing the importance of on-court discipline and the overall safety of players from unnecessary physicality.
Hopefully, the league has done enough to prevent something similar from happening again, especially with many young people tuning in to the games.
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