Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green told NBA reporter Ramona Shelburne that he plans to call Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic to apologize for hitting him in the face.
The NBA suspended Green indefinitely. It’s his second suspension of the season. Green was suspended five games for putting Minnesota Timberwolves star Rudy Gobert in a headlock.
“I’ve done things that have gotten me taken out of the game, and all of those things I’ve stood on,” Green said. “I don’t back down from those things. I don’t back down from something because of what a suspension may or may not be. I’m not that person. I am very much so the person that I say I am. I only apologize for things if I did not mean to do them. I don’t just come out apologizing just to save my ass. That’s not who I am. But I didn’t mean to do it, which is why I wanted to apologize.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors, Jusuf Nurkic, Phoenix Suns Updates
Green will have to meet certain league and Warriors requirements to return to game action. The four-time champion is averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 0.4 steals and 0.7 blocks on the season while shooting 49.0% from the field, 42.9% from beyond the arc and 83.3% from the free-throw line.
“When I’m not on the floor, it hurts my team,” Green said. “So for me, it’s going to be more about, ‘What do you have to do as a leader to save this team? You got to put your ego aside. You got to put your pride aside. You got to put, even, in a sense, you as a human being aside.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors, Jusuf Nurkic, Phoenix Suns Updates
The Warriors signed Green to a four-year, $100 million contract in July. Green was slated to make $22,321,429 this season, but that number will decrease after his suspensions.
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