Draymond Green reportedly will be out for at least another three weeks as he undergoes counseling while serving an indefinite suspension handed down by the NBA last week.
“Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has started counseling and is expected to remain sidelined via suspension for at least the next three weeks, league sources said,” wrote Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The former All-Star was suspended for a second time this season on Dec. 13 after hitting Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face during their game the night before.
Jusuf Nurkic went down after taking a hit from Draymond Green 😬 pic.twitter.com/bif0fVDxG6
— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) December 13, 2023
According to the league, the indefinite length of the ban took into account Green’s “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.”
Those include a five-game suspension he served earlier in the season after putting Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves in a chokehold during their game on Nov. 14.
Green must satisfy certain conditions before he is allowed to return to game action. He, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the NBA reportedly all were involved in determining the terms of the current suspension and his possible return.
“League sources said the 33-year-old was expected to receive counseling and work with the Warriors and NBA while suspended,” wrote Charania. “People around Green and the organization said the four-time NBA champion has been understanding and prepared to undergo the process required to return to the team in a full capacity. Those sources would not reveal the specifics of Green’s counseling out of respect for his privacy.”
Though the organization — including head coach Steve Kerr and teammate Stephen Curry — has backed Green publicly, there is a chance the Warriors may ultimately decide to move on from him. Considering that, a popular sportsbook has posted odds on his next destination, with the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers among the favorites to possibly add the troublesome star.
Green has been suspended six times during his 12-season career. Arguably the most noteworthy ban came during the 2016 NBA Finals. After hitting Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James in the groin in Game 4, Green was suspended for Game 5 based on the flagrant foul points he had accumulated.
The Warriors at the time held a 3-1 lead in the series and were on the verge of winning a second consecutive championship, but they did not win another game and are still the only team to blow such a lead and lose the NBA Finals.
In addition, Green spent time away from the Warriors prior to the start of last season after punching then-teammate Jordan Poole during practice. Poole is now with the Washington Wizards.
The Warriors have won two of three games without Green during his current absence and will take a 12-14 record into their home game against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. They will be trying to stay in the playoff race until whenever one of their top players is able to return.
