Draymond Green is under fire after he punched Jusuf Nurkic away from the Phoneix Suns earlier in the week, marking another suspension for the Golden State Warriors power forward, but this one is different.

Draymond Green

Some reports say that the NBA has imposed an indefinite suspension on Green as he will have to leave the court until the league finds that the Warriors player has improved his behavior from now on, as this is he was suspended by the league for the third time this season.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 12: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after being ejected for a flagrant foul during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on December 12, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 119-116. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

How many games will Draymond miss?

However, according to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, sources within the Golden State Warriors told him that Draymond Green will have to sit out at least nine games, meaning he likely won’t play until 2024.

Additionally, he will have to follow the league’s guidelines when he returns, as he must see a counselor and other things to tone down his on-field aggression, but remain competitive.

Draymond’s reaction

Despite the uncertain timeline, Green appears to be handling the situation with an understanding of the severity of the incident according to Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.

According to press reports, Dunleavy has stated that Green will remain connected to the team throughout the duration of the suspension and that the team will not eject the player but only give him any help he needs to avoid future incidents.

Draymond Green suspension: NBA’s Joe Dumars explains decision, says everyone agrees he needs help

Suns players Kevin Durant and Jusuf Nurkić expressed concern for the Warriors veteran

Does Draymond Green’s indefinite suspension give the NBA flexibility or is it a power grab? | No Cap Room

Scroll back up to restore default view.

With questions surrounding the potential length of Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green’s indefinite suspension for swinging at Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić on Tuesday night, NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars explained the decision Thursday.

Dumars, who appeared on ESPN’s “First Take” to discuss the suspension, has plenty of experience discussing Green’s issues.

“You wanna see guys grow and you wanna do what’s best for them,” Dumars said. “Clearly something is going on. Clearly, he’s crossed a line and we need to deal with it.”

Green will be required to satisfy undisclosed league and team conditions before he returns to the court, the league said when announcing terms of the punishment Wednesday. The NBA cited Green’s “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts,” language it has used about the 33-year-old since he was issued a one-game suspension during a playoff series with the Sacramento Kings last season. This is his second suspension of the current campaign.

Dumars rebuffed attempts to confirm a minimum amount of games Green will miss, emphasizing the priority on Green’s well-being.

“The reason we don’t have a number is because the help that he needs to get, getting himself better, is what’s most important,” he said.

Draymond Green will be away from the Golden State Warriors for however long he needs. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Former Warriors forward Andre Iguodala, who played alongside Green for almost a decade, took over as executive director of the NBA players’ union last month. In his new role, Iguodala was “exceptional” in helping to “craft” the suspension, Dumars said.

In addition to Iguodala’s support, Dumars listed Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and general manager Mike Dunleavy as proponents of the idea.

“There’s been no pushback,” Dumars added. “Everybody is on board with, ‘You know what, this is the right thing to do to help him get better.'”

Hours after Dumars’ TV appearance, the Warriors added Green into the apparent concord.

“We understand there’s a punishment that will take place but this is also about helping somebody,” Dunleavy said, via ESPN’s Kendra Andrews. “They 100% agreed. So did Draymond.”

Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić, Steve Kerr say Draymond Green needs help

Green’s most recent incident occurred in the third quarter of the Warriors’ 119-116 loss to the Suns on Tuesday night in Phoenix. Struggling with Nurkić on an inbounds play, Green suddenly spun around and swung. He hit Nurkić directly in the face with his right hand, sending him down to the court.

Green was assessed a foul, which was upgraded to a flagrant 2. He was ejected from the game as a result, marking his third ejection of the season. Green apologized for hitting Nurkić, asserting the strike was an accident caused by an attempt to sell a call.

“What’s going on with him, I don’t know,” Nurkić said after the game. “Personally, I feel like 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.”

Nurkić was referencing Green’s second ejection this season, which saw him place Minnesota Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert in chokehold last month. Green was issued a five-game suspension for the bizarre assault.

When Kevin Durant was asked about Green’s most recent flagrant 2, he echoed Nurkić’s concerns.

“That was insane to see. Glad Nurk is all right. Never seen that before in a basketball court in an NBA game,” he said. “I hope Draymond gets the help he needs. It’s been incident after incident.”

Kerr spoke Thursday and agreed with the decision.

Dumars and the league didn’t miss Durant and Nurkić’s comments.
“When we see guys say stuff like that … yeah, we see it,” Dumars said Thursday. “You look at it and it kind of confirms what we’re saying internally anyway. But it doesn’t sway any part of the decision. It’s just another factor that we look at.”

Green acknowledged he had “room to grow” after his incident with Gobert. Under the league’s current ruling, it appears he’ll be required to do so.