Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been suspended indefinitely by the NBA following his ejection for striking the Phoenix Suns’ Jusuf Nurkic in the face on Tuesday.
Green was ejected for the third time this season during the third quarter of the Warriors’ 119-116 loss, having swung and hit Nurkic in the head while defending him.
That incident came less than a month after he was banned for five games for putting the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert in a headlock, with the NBA saying Green’s “history of unsportsmanlike acts” contributed to the length of that suspension.
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Green apologised in the aftermath of Tuesday’s game for striking Nurkic, before adding: “I didn’t intend to hit him. I sell calls with my arms. I was selling the call and I swung and unfortunately I hit him.”
However, that explanation has not saved Green from an indefinite suspension, which the NBA said would begin immediately in a press release on Wednesday.
The league said the forward will be required to “meet certain league and team conditions” before he can return to play.
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/MUyW5ygJsb
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 14, 2023
Speaking about the incident after Tuesday’s game, Suns center Nurkic said: “What’s going on with him, I don’t know. Personally, I feel that brother needs help.
“I’m glad he didn’t try to choke me. That had nothing to do with basketball. I’m just out there trying to play basketball.”
ESPN reported on Wednesday that Green is due to meet with Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. to discuss a path of counselling and assistance to allow him to return to the court.
Green’s three ejections this season are tied for the most in a single campaign, with his first two coming within the space of three days in November. He has now been tossed 18 times in his career, the most among all active NBA players.
