Golden State Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. revealed on Thursday how Draymond Green’s indefinite suspension came to be with the NBA.
Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. says that he and Draymond Green’s camp worked with the league to come up with the indefinite suspension.
“We understand there’s a punishment that will take place but this is also about helping somebody. They 100% agreed. So did Draymond.”
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) December 14, 2023
This is the second suspension that Green has received this season, as he was previously suspended for putting Minnesota Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert in a headlock during a scuffle earlier this season.
The latest discipline for Green is due to his striking of Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face during the Warriors’ loss to Phoenix on Tuesday night.
Jusuf Nurkic went down after taking a hit from Draymond Green 😬 pic.twitter.com/bif0fVDxG6
— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) December 13, 2023
While Green and the league worked together for his latest suspension, it also appears that Green will enter counseling to help him move forward.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Green, Dunleavy and Green’s agent Rich Paul are expected to meet on Thursday.
Draymond Green, Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr., and Green’s agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports are expected to meet Thursday to start discussing a path of counseling and help for Green to move forward, sources said. The league didn’t want to put a specific number on the suspension,… https://t.co/OJNpoHtpNs
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 14, 2023
Green is in the first season of a four-year deal that he signed to remain in Golden State this past offseason. Things have not gone to plan early on this season, as Green has been ejected three times and now suspended twice in just the Warriors’ first 23 games.
Golden State is just 10-13 on the season and currently holds the No. 11 spot in the Western Conference heading into Thursday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers.
While Green’s actions have put both himself and the team in a tough place, Dunleavy reiterated that the team is committed to him for the long term.
I asked Dunleavy how the team can ensure Green will change his behavior after multiple incidents and suspensions, and he said they can’t. But later in the news conference, Dunleavy said they are committed to Green, who is on the first year of his new 4-year contract.
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) December 14, 2023
Green is a four-time NBA champion and former Defensive Player of the Year, but he has not been himself this season. While he has always had a fiery personality, he has been much more violent with his actions of late, which has landed him in hot water with the NBA.
So far this season, Green is averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3-point range.
Those are solid numbers for the veteran forward, but he’s only appeared in 15 games for Golden State. He missed the start of the 2023-24 campaign with an ankle injury.
For now, the Warriors and their fans will have to wait and see when Green returns to the lineup. The team is surely hoping to get back closer to .500 by the time he returns.
Golden State still has title hopes with Stephen Curry leading the way. The Warriors last won the NBA Finals in the 2021-22 season.
