Draymond Green Receives Indefinite NBA Suspension for Striking Jusuf Nurkic of the Suns in the Face

The NBA has suspended Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green indefinitely “for striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face,” league executive vice president/head of basketball operations Joe Dumars announced Wednesday.

The league said, “This outcome takes into account Green’s repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts. … He will be required to meet certain league and team conditions before he returns to play.”

Green’s suspension begins immediately. This marks the sixth time Green has been suspended; four of those suspensions have come in the past nine months.

This suspension comes just six games after Green served a five-game suspension for “escalating an on-court altercation and forcibly grabbing Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert around the neck” during a game on Nov. 14.

On Tuesday, Green was ejected after throwing a wild swing that connected with Nurkic’s head.

Referees reviewed the play and issued Green a Flagrant Foul 2, which results in an automatic ejection.

The incident happened with 8:23 remaining in the third quarter of Phoenix’s 119-116 victory Tuesday. Green had just two points, two rebounds and two assists when he was thrown out with the Warriors leading 65-60.

The Warriors dropped to 10-13 and are in 11th place in the Western Conference.

What led to the situation with Green and Nurkic?

Green and Nurkic were jostling for position, and Green said, “He was pulling my hip, and I was swinging away to sell the call. Made contact with him.”

Nurkic finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and one steal

What else did Green say about the incident?

Green makes no apologies for who he is as a player. However, he was contrite. “I do apologize to Jusuf because I didn’t intend to hit him. I sell calls with my arms. I don’t fall to sell calls. I’m not a flopper. … I spun away, and unfortunately, I hit him.”

What did Warriors coach Steve Kerr say?

“We need Draymond,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters. “He knows that. We’ve talked to him. He’s got to find a way to keep his poise and be out there for his teammates.”

What did Suns coach Frank Vogel say?

“Just looked like a reckless and dangerous play. I’m sensitive to our guys getting hit on plays like that,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “So I didn’t like it, the refs did what they had to do, and the league will do what they have to do.”

 

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