The Warriors Have A Draymond Green Problem
The World is just two weeks away from Christmas but NBA fans were gifted an early surprise when the NBA announced that they are suspending Draymond Green indefinitely. The suspension arises from numerous incidents involving Green throughout the past two years, not just the Jusuf Nurkic swipe incident.
The NBA Made The Right Decision
On December 12, the Golden State Warriors played the Phoenix Suns in a thrilling marquee matchup. Almost four minutes into the third quarter, Draymond Green and Jusuf Nurkic became entangled resulting in a swipe from Green across Nurkic`s face. The play was reviewed and officials saw that Nurkic held Green ever so slightly. The officials then ejected Green for unnecessary contact. Nurkic turned out to be fine and even expressed forgiveness towards Green, "That brother needs help", said Nurkic in the post-game press conference.
The next morning, the NBA announced that they were suspending Green indefinitely so that he could receive counseling and meet an undetermined criteria to return. This is now 19 total ejections for Green, second only to Rasheed Wallace`s 27. Four of which have come within the past nine months. Green is a repeat offender which means that he needs both psychological help and time away from the court. If he utilizes his time away well enough, the suspension can only do nothing but good for the four-time NBA champion.
A Brief, Recent History of Draymond Complications
In November of this season, not even one month in, Green was suspended for five games for putting Rudy Gobert in a headlock. During the Sacramento Kings first-round series last year, Green was suspended for one game for stomping on Domantas Sabonis's chest while he was trying to recover from a fall. Just one month prior to the Sabonis incident, Green was ejected and then suspended for receiving his 16th technical foul against the Los Angeles Clippers. At the beginning of last season, a video surfaced online of Green punching then teammate Jordan Poole during a practice. The Green-Poole video was perhaps the worst incident of Green`s career and will tarnish his legacy forever.
Since being drafted in 2012, Green has accumulated over 180 technical fouls over his career. This stat puts him in the top ten of technical foul leaders in the past 50 years. Thus making Green infamous rather than famous. Green is known to be a dirty, hot-headed player rather than a defensive anchor team leader. In recent history, no other player is known to be such a toxic deterrent. The NBA just will not allow it.
What This Means For The NBA
Everyone knows that Green has the longest leash in the NBA. He has gotten away with this type of behavior for a decade now. The NBA is about respecting your competition and has moved away from the ruthless aggression of the mid-2000s and prior. The league maintains its position at the forefront of social justice and counteracting unsportsmanlike conduct. This is why it is beneficial for the NBA to use Green as an example for the next generation of players. Physicality is necessary in the NBA, it`s what gives an edge to some players over others. But fighting and unnecessary contact has no place in the league.
Hopefully, the NBA will disincentivize this type of behavior and start adding more serious repercussions. The ones in place are simply not enough. There needs to be heftier fines for players who make hundreds of millions of dollars depending on the severity of the incident. The NBA made the right decision in adding mandatory counseling as a result of Green`s incident and should implement it in future scenarios. When the league shows that they care and have an intolerance for nasty behavior, then these incidents will dwindle.
Draymond Green's indefinite suspension marks a pivotal moment for the NBA, signaling a shift toward holding players accountable for repeated unsportsmanlike conduct. His history of on-court altercations, accumulating 19 ejections, reflects a pattern demanding psychological intervention. Green's case serves as a clear example for the league to further prioritize fair play and respect, emphasizing the need for more stringent consequences beyond fines and suspensions, including mandatory counseling.
The NBA's decision to mandate counseling for Green showcases a commitment to addressing underlying issues and promoting behavioral change among players. It's a step toward deterring future incidents and fostering a more positive, respectful environment. By taking a stand against such behavior and advocating for psychological support, the league demonstrates a proactive approach to shaping the future of professional basketball. This suspension signifies more than a penalty—it's a call for cultural transformation within the NBA, reinforcing values of sportsmanship, integrity, and accountability for players at all levels.
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