NBA suspends Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green for five games
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Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been suspended five games by the National Basketball Association.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LOS ANGELES – The National Basketball Association (NBA) has suspended Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green for five games without pay for his actions during a clash with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, the league announced on Wednesday night.
According to the NBA’s statement, his history of unsportsmanlike acts
He was at the centre of a skirmish during the opening minutes of the game between the Warriors and the Timberwolves in San Francisco that the visitors won 104-101.
After Anthony Edwards missed a three-point attempt, Golden State’s Klay Thompson and the Wolves’ Jaden McDaniels started grabbing at each other as both teams made their way to the other side of the court.
Thompson and McDaniels then got into an altercation, prompting Minnesota big man Rudy Gobert to rush over and intervene.
That was when Green came charging in, putting Gobert in a headlock before dragging him towards the Warriors’ bench.
The NBA said Green’s actions against Gobert were conducted in an “unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner”, with NBA executive vice-president Joe Dumars saying in the statement that he had been sanctioned without pay for “escalating an on-court altercation”.
Thompson, McDaniels and Green were all ejected just 1min 43sec into the game. Thompson, Gobert and McDaniels were each fined US$25,000 (S$33,700).
Green is averaging 8.8 points, 5.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds in nine games this season.
He will miss two games against the Oklahoma City Thunder and also match-ups against the Houston Rockets, the Phoenix Suns and the San Antonio Spurs.
He is then eligible to return for Golden State’s road game against the Sacramento Kings on Nov 28.
The Warriors (6-6) have lost four straight games heading into Thursday’s (Friday morning, Singapore time) home game against Oklahoma City.
Green has already been ejected from two games this season, also getting tossed against the Cleveland Cavaliers last Saturday.
The NBA faced mounting calls to issue a hefty suspension on him on Wednesday from commentators.
Gobert had also joined the chorus of condemnation.
“I do hope the league’s going to do whatever needs to be done because that’s just clown behaviour,” he said.
Green’s suspension is the latest in a long line of brushes with the NBA’s disciplinary chiefs over the years. The 33-year-old was suspended during the NBA play-offs in April after stamping on Sacramento Kings player Domantas Sabonis.
Green was also ejected in Golden State’s 2021-22 play-off series against the Memphis Grizzlies after clashing with Brandon Clarke.
Going further back, he was suspended for Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Cavaliers as well for a low blow against LeBron James. The Cavs won the next three games to clinch the title.
REUTERS, AFP
