The Golden State Warriors had a face-off against the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Canter on December 12, 2023. While the Suns were delivering stellar gameplay, the Warriors’ forward was up to some mischief. With just 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, the aggressive player was booted from the game.
Draymond Green and his history of violent altercations have now added another event to the list. Facing his third ejection in the 2023–24 season, Green was ejected after he hit Phoenix Suns’ center Jusuf Nurkić with a heavy right-hand swing. After the referees reviewed the tape, the act was bashed with a flagrant two, and the star forward was immediately thrown out of the game.
With just 8:23 minutes in the third quarter, Green was fighting for the post-position with Nurkic. While the Warriors were leading by 5 points, Green’s act of aggressive play affected the franchise, as it was trailing by the end of the third quarter.
Draymond Green apologized to Jusuf Nurkic for his swinging hit above the shoulders, but said it was unintentional and he was just trying to sell a foul pic.twitter.com/uyXfaZ9F2D
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) December 13, 2023
In a post-game interview, Draymond addressed the press with an apology, which mostly seemed like a clarification to avert another suspension. Green said, “I do apologize to Jusuf, um…because I didn’t intend to hit him.” Anthony Slater of ‘The Athletic’ captioned Green’s video, “Draymond Green apologized to Jusuf Nurkić for his swinging hit above the shoulders, but said it was unintentional and he was just trying to sell a foul.”
According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, Green will definitely face a suspension. This incident adds to his previous burst out on Rudy Gobert on November 14. One thing is for sure: his ‘embellished’ history of incidents like these impacts the franchise as a whole.
Draymond Green and a history of Hostile altercations
Draymond and his violent altercations seem to be a chain reaction he has set since 2015. While facing off against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 14, 2023, Green grabbed the 7-footer Rudy Gobert in a headlock and dragged him for nearly 10 feet across the court.
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While this move wasn’t the first one in the ‘provocative-play’ history of the Warriors’ forward/center, it earned him a suspension. His brawl with Jordan Poole during preseason also hit the headlines, and an ‘undisclosed fine’ was levied on Green. In 2016, he also hit Steven Admas in the groin, facing yet another ejection.
His feud with LeBron James also began back in the 2016 NBA finals, when Green swung his fist at James. Riding on the 19th ejection of his career, Draymond doesn’t seem to stop with the antics. The Dubs lost to the Suns, 116-119, after Green recorded just 17 minutes on the hardwood.