(Field Level Media) Warriors forward Draymond Green began league-mandated counseling and is expected to miss at least three weeks, The Athletic reported yesterday. Green was suspended indefinitely for striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic.
Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy revealed that the team and Green worked with the NBA on setting the terms of the suspension. The NBA’s statement said Green will have to meet “certain league and team conditions before he returns to play.” Dunleavy and Green’s agent, Rich Paul, met with Green to discuss counseling options. “We understand there’s a punishment that will take place, but this is also about helping somebody,” Dunleavy said. “They 100 percent agreed. So did Draymond.”
Green maintained that the arm swing that caught Nurkic in the face and led to his ejection on Tuesday was an accident. Green was thrown out of the game for delivering a wild open-hand punch that caught Nurkic. Nurkic was defending Green and had a hand on Green’s hip when Green turned and swung and made contact. The blow sent Nurkic down to the floor and an offensive foul was called on Green with 8:23 left in the third quarter.
It was Green’s third ejection of the young season. He also made headlines on Nov. 14 when he was ejected for putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock during an on-court scrum. That led to a five-game suspension for Green, who was first thrown out of a game this season on Nov. 11 after being tagged with two technical fouls against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
