Draymond Green slapped with ‘indefinite suspension’ after ugly act

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has been hit hard by the NBA following his latest ugly act during a game on Wednesday.

Draymond Green slapped with indefinite NBA suspension. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The NBA aren’t messing around with Draymond Green.

On Wednesday the Golden State Warriors star caused widespread outrage after being ejected over a swinging right arm that struck the head/neck area of Phoenix Suns centre Jusuf Nurkic.

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The incident resulted in Green’s third ejection on the season and came less than a month after he had already served a five-game suspension after choking Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert.

Calls for the league to come down hard on the three-time NBA champ flooded social media and on Thursday (AEDT), the league responded.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Green was handed an indefinite suspension by the NBA over the ugly act.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania noted that the Warriors star is “expected to receive counselling and work with the Warriors and NBA while suspended” and that he “has to meet criteria before a return to play”.

Should be ejected for the season he’s a dirty thug

— Dev (@xDevhs) December 13, 2023

Green and Nurkic during the third quarter got tangled up during a play before Green swung his body around and collected Nurkic high with a closed fist in a fiery moment.

The Warriors forward was issued a flagrant two foul and tossed from the contest.

The 33-year old was suspended for five games last month for escalating an on-court altercation with the Minnesota Timberwolves where Green put Rudy Gobert in a headlock. At the time the league cited Green’s history as a repeat offender as a reason for the length of his ban.

Green has now been ejected three times this season — the most in the NBA — while he has 18 regular season ejections across his career — the most of any active player.

Green attempts to plead his case after hitting Nurkic. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Following the game on Wednesday, Green said he wasn’t trying to strike his opponent ... rather he was trying to sell a foul.

“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.”

The NBA issued a statement shortly after news of Green’s indefinite ban came to light.

“This outcome takes into account Green’s repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts. ... Green’s suspension will begin immediately. He will be required to meet certain league and team conditions before he returns to play,” the statement read.

Wojnarowski reported that Green, Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Green’s agent, Rich Paul, are expected to meet on Thursday, Dec. 14, “to start discussing a path of counseling and help Green move forward.”

Wojnarowski added, “The league didn’t want to put a specific number on the suspension, but allow Green to take the time he might need to deal with challenges he’s facing.”

Originally published as Draymond Green slapped with ‘indefinite suspension’ after ugly act