Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been suspended indefinitely by the NBA for striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face during Tuesday night’s game, the league announced Wednesday.
Green received a flagrant foul 2 for striking Nurkić and was subsequently ejected for the third time this season. According to the NBA’s release, the indefinite suspension “takes into account Green’s repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.”
The league said the penalty handed down by operations chief Joe Dumars begins immediately. This is already Green’s second suspension this season.
“He will be required to meet certain league and team conditions before he returns to play,” the NBA said.
Green, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Green’s agent, Rich Paul, are expected to meet Thursday to start discussing a path of counseling and assistance for Green to move forward, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The league didn’t want to put a specific number on the suspension but wants to allow Green the time he needs to deal with the challenges he’s facing.
Green will be docked $153,941 per game if his suspension is fewer than 20 games and $202,922 per game if more than 20 games.
Green’s three ejections are tied for his most in a season.
“I am not one to apologize for things I mean to do, but I do apologize to Jusuf because I didn’t intend to hit him,” Green said after the game. “I sell calls with my arms … so I was selling the call … and I swung and unfortunately I hit him.”
The Warriors have made it very clear to Green that they need him on the floor. That need is greater now than ever, as Golden State sits at 10-13 with two of its most important players, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins, struggling.
“We need him. We need Draymond. He knows that,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Tuesday. “We’ve talked to him. He’s got to find a way to keep his poise and be out there for his teammates.”
Green acknowledged Kerr’s message.
“Like I said, if I intended to do that, then I would feel awful about not being there,” Green said. “But my intentions were just to sell the foul.”
