The NBA has made the extraordinary decision to suspend Draymond Green indefinitely following his latest controversial incident in the Golden State Warriors' 119-116 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.
The former Defensive Player of the Year will receive counselling and will have to meet criteria in order to return to the floor, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania and an official statement from the league.
Draymond Green's indefinite suspension shows the league has had enough of the Golden State Warriors' forward
Green hit Suns' big man Jusuf Nurkic in the head during the third-quarter of Tuesday's game, leading to a flagrant two foul and ejection upon review. It was the third time the 33-year-old has been ejected in just 15 games so far this season.
The four-time All-Star had only just returned from serving a five-game suspension following his headlock on Minnesota Timberwolves' center Rudy Gobert during a game on November 14.
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/MUyW5ygJsb
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 14, 2023
Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes has confirmed Green will be allowed to continue practicing with the team during the suspension, with ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowksi reporting that Green, his agent Rich Paul, and Golden State General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. will meet on Thursday to discuss the next steps moving forward.
Green's incident with Nurkic continues a long line of unsportsmanlike acts that dates back nearly a decade. He was famously suspended for Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals after picking up his fourth flagrant foul, while more recently he missed Game 3 of the Warriors' first-round playoff series against the Sacramento Kings after a stomp on All-Star center Domantas Sabonis.
The Warriors' underwhelming and disappointing 2022-23 season was partly attributed to Green following his savage king hit on then-teammate Jordan Poole during training camp.
Nurkic responded by stating that Green "needs help" following Tuesday's game, a sentiment that's clearly been echoed with the result of this indefinite suspension. That will officially start when the Warriors meet the Clippers in LA on Thursday night.