The NBA has announced the reinstatement of Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green following a 12-game suspension due to an incident with Phoenix Suns’ Jusuf Nurkic on December 12. Green is now eligible to rejoin the Warriors’ lineup, potentially as soon as their upcoming game against the Toronto Raptors. However, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Green might need about a week to prepare for his return to active play.
Green’s reinstatement process involved individual counseling sessions and virtual meetings with team, league, and union officials. As Wojnarowski noted, these sessions were part of a collaborative effort to track Green’s progress in addressing issues that led to his repeated altercations on the court.
The incident leading to Green’s suspension occurred during a game against the Suns, where he was ejected in the third quarter for a Flagrant 2 foul after striking Nurkic in the face. The altercation began as Green and Nurkic jostled for position, culminating in Green hitting Nurkic and causing him to fall in pain.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors Updates
Following the ejection, the NBA imposed an indefinite suspension on Green, with counseling cited as a condition for his return. During his suspension, Green was permitted to practice with the team, as Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report reported.
Post-game, Green regretted the incident, clarifying that his intention wasn’t to harm Nurkic. He explained his action as a response to being held back by Nurkic, emphasizing that he was trying to free himself rather than deliberately striking him.
“I don’t fall to sell a call, I’m not a flopper,” Green told reporters. “So I was selling the call because he was grabbing me and pulling my hip back. So I swung away and unfortunately, I hit him.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors Updates
Earlier in the season, Green faced another suspension for his conduct during an In-Season Tournament game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he was involved in a physical altercation with Rudy Gobert.
Despite these disciplinary issues, Green’s career achievements, including four NBA championships, four All-Star selections, and a Defensive Player of the Year award, highlight his significant impact on the league.
This season, Green has been averaging 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game, with 49.0 percent field goal shooting and 42.9 percent from three-point range.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors Updates
Green’s return is highly anticipated, as the Warriors, currently 10th in the Western Conference with a 17-18 record, have been managing a 7-5 record in his absence. His presence is expected to bolster the team’s performance significantly.
