A look at Draymond Greens history of suspensions in the NBA

Warriors forward Draymond Green was suspended for the sixth time in his NBA career Wednesday, the latest infraction coming as a result of Green striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face during Tuesday’s game.

Green appeared to be grappling for post positioning against Nurkić near the corner, swung around and nailed Nurkić in the face with his right arm. Nurkić went down in a heap and stayed down for about a minute.

Officials ejected Green, who later apologized to Nurkić. He said it was unintentional and that he was just trying to sell a foul by flailing his arms.

“As you know, I’m not one to apologize for things I meant to do, but I do apologize to Jusuf. Because I didn’t intend to hit him,” Green said. “I sell calls with my arms.”

Joe Dumars, NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations, said Green’s “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts” was considered in their decision to suspend Green indefinitely.

Draymond Green has been ejected for the third time this season after hitting Jusuf Nurkic in the face.

🎥 @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/vuAwwvgo6y

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 13, 2023

Here are the five previous times Green has faced a suspension — four times via the NBA, and once via the Warriors:

November 2023: Suspended 5 games for role in Timberwolves fight

Green was suspended five games in November for his involvement in a fight with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In that matchup, a 104-101 Golden State loss, Klay Thompson and Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels got into a scuffle at midcourt less than two minutes into the game. After Minnesota center Rudy Gobert entered the situation, Green grabbed him around the neck before players and coaches stepped in to break it up.

That five-game suspension was the first multigame punishment of Green’s career, and was “based in part on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts,” the NBA said in a news release.

The Warriors and T-Wolves got into a scuffle in the first 1:43 of play.

Draymond Green put Rudy Gobert in a headlock.

🎥 @NBCSWarriors pic.twitter.com/p3yzj8Mvip

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) November 15, 2023

April 2023: Suspended 1 game for stepping on Domantas Sabonis

During Game 2 of the Western Conference first round against the Sacramento Kings, Green was ejected after being assessed a flagrant 2 foul for stepping on power forward Domantas Sabonis in the fourth quarter. Sabonis first grabbed Green’s leg while on the floor and was issued a technical foul.

While the referees reviewed the play to determine the degree of the foul, Green walked back to the Warriors’ bench waving his hands as if to encourage the crowd to continue their parade of boos. Golden State went on to lose 114-106, going down 2-0 in the series.

The NBA suspended Green for Game 3. Golden State went on to beat the Kings in seven games.

Draymond Green and Domantas Sabonis get twisted up.

Green was issued a flagrant 2 (ejected) and Sabonis was issued a technical.

🎥 @BleacherReport pic.twitter.com/km7Oqy7cSI

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 18, 2023

March 2023: Suspended 1 game for 16th technical foul of season

During the second quarter of a March 15, 2023, game against the Los Angeles Clippers, referees assessed Green his 16th technical foul of 2022-23, necessitating a one-game ban.

After the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac made a hook shot late in the first half, Green was bumped off-balance by Russell Westbrook, crashing in from the corner for an offensive rebound. The ball went through the hoop and landed in Green’s hands.

As he turned around, he tossed it off Westbrook’s head. Both Westbrook and George motioned to the referee. The referees gave Green a technical.

Green hinted to reporters after the game that perhaps the league would rescind one of his previous 15 technicals, but the league did not.

November 2018: Suspended 1 game for confrontation with Kevin Durant

Green and fellow Warriors star Kevin Durant were seen jawing at each other in the team huddle at the end of regulation of a 121-116 overtime loss on the road to the Clippers. Players and coaches had to separate the two, but the back and forth didn’t stop there.

The disagreement, originally about Green’s decision not to pass to Durant in the final seconds, became more personal when Green confronted Durant’s impending free agency.

The Warriors suspended Green without pay for the following game against the Atlanta Hawks.

“We just felt like this rose to the level of acting the way that we did,” Warriors general manager Bob Myers said at the time.

June 2016: Suspended 1 game for hitting LeBron James in the groin

Green’s most infamous suspension came in Game 4 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. With the Warriors leading and just under three minutes to play, Green and James tangled up near midcourt. Green hit the deck, and while getting up swiped at James’ groin area. The two went at each other on the next play, leading to both players being assessed technical fouls (Green received a harsher flagrant 1 foul).

The league reviewed the incident and decided Green would serve a one-game suspension without pay for Game 5.

“The cumulative points system is designed to deter flagrant fouls in our game,” NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki Van De Weghe said at the time. “While Draymond Green’s actions in Game 4 do not merit a suspension as a standalone act, the number of flagrant points he has earned triggers a suspension for Game 5.”

The decision was a factor in the Cavaliers winning the 2016 NBA championship after trailing 3-1 in the series.

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(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

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