The NBA has reinstated Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green following his 12-game suspension, the league announced Saturday. Green has undergone counseling for several weeks and held progress meetings with the league and the Warriors.
“During the period of his suspension, which began on December 14 and resulted in him missing 12 games, Green completed steps that demonstrated his commitment to conforming his conduct to the standards expected of NBA players,” Joe Dumars, vice president executive and head of the NBA. basketball operations for the NBA, we read in a statement.
“He has engaged in meetings with a consultant and has met on multiple occasions with representatives from the NBA, the Warriors and the National Basketball Players Association, both of which will continue throughout the season.”
The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/dlFtd7okI7
—NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 6, 2024
The four-time NBA champion was suspended indefinitely after hitting Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face during the Warriors’ Dec. 12 matchup against Phoenix. Golden State went 7-5 in Green’s absence and holds a 17-18 record.
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What is the significance of Green’s return?
The Warriors find their best defender again. He is a coordinator in the room and we missed him.
The Warriors had a defensive rating of 119.8 in their 12-game absence, eighth-worst in the NBA during that span. They’ve addressed some of their early-season offensive issues by curbing turnovers and picking up the pace, but this team can’t be taken seriously until it starts making more stops. No one in the world, when fit and physically fit, helps you make stops better than Green. — Anthony Slater, Warriors senior writer
When I’ll be back?
Green and Rick Celebrini, the team’s primary medical decision-maker, will determine that. There will be some sort of acceleration process. He will not play at home against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, although Green is eligible. The Warriors then take two days off before Wednesday’s home game against the Pelicans and then begin a four-game road trip next Friday night in Chicago. — Slater
The biggest question surrounding Green upon his return
Whose minutes does he get and how long can he stay out of the league’s sights? Jonathan Kuminga started all 12 games Green missed and performed well enough to keep his spot and his heavy minute load. In the previous game he had just played a career-high 36 minutes.
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It’s possible the Warriors bring Green back into the fold off the bench and could theoretically make him their starting center. The night he fouled Nurkić, Kuminga replaced Kevon Looney in the starting lineup to open the second half and Green moved to fifth. — Slater
Mandatory reading
(Photo: Tony Ding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
