Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected on Tuesday after hitting Phoenix Suns big Jusuf Nurkic.
The flagrant foul on Nurkic in the third quarter of the loss against the Suns could lead to another suspension for the four-time NBA champion. He was previously suspended this season for putting Minnesota Timberwolves big Rudy Gobert in a chokehold.
To that point, the five-game absence was the longest suspension he had received in his professional career. But the discipline for Green’s actions against Nurkic may warrant a longer time away from his team.
Jusuf Nurkić on the incident with Draymond. Says he’s glad he didn’t get choked pic.twitter.com/dgQSlGiW79
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) December 13, 2023
After the game, meanwhile, Nurkic shared his thoughts about the incident.
“What’s going on with him? I don’t know. Personally, I feel like that brother needs help. I’m glad he [didn’t] try to choke me. But at the same, it ain’t nothing to do with basketball.”
Nurkic added that he hopes that whatever is going on in Green’s life “gets better” soon.
Of course, this was a dangerous play from Green that could have seriously hurt Nurkic. But this was an interesting perspective from the NBA veteran who also seemed grateful to avoid a chokehold from the former Defensive Player of the Year.
