Draymond Green hit Jusuf Nurkić in the face during a game, prompting his second ejection from an NBA game in a month.
The Golden State Warriors seemingly have a Draymond Green problem. Just last month, the four-time NBA champ was placed on a five-game suspension after an on-court altercation that led to him being ejected from the venue. Now, less than a month later, Green was kicked out of a game again for a similar incident.
The Warriors faced off against the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 12, and during the third quarter, Green got a little overzealous in trying to keep the Suns' Jusuf Nurkić off his back, as he whipped around and his hand made contact with the side of Nurkić's face. He received a flagrant foul and was promptly ejected from the game.
Draymond has been ejected after flagrant foul on Nurkić pic.twitter.com/RmrLU5tdw8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 13, 2023
After the final buzzer, Green shared his regret with reporters and clarified that the smack was an accident.
"As you know, I am not one to apologize for things I mean to do, but I do apologize to Jusuf because I didn't intend to hit him," Green said, per TMZ. "I sell calls with my arms. I don't fall to sell a call. I'm not a flopper. So I was just selling the call 'cause he was grabbing me and pulling my hip back. So, I spun away and unfortunately I hit him."
Nurkić, for his part, was just happy the situation didn't escalate. "Personally, I feel like that brother needs help. I'm glad he did not try to choke me," he told reporters. "I'm just out there trying to play basketball, you know?"
"Personally, I feel like that brother needs help."
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 13, 2023
Jusuf Nurkic responded after taking a punch from Draymond Green.
(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/OEv8eqUpxo
The Warriors went on to lose to the Suns. The team is set to play the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 14, but whether or not Green will be there remains to be seen as a potential suspension remains up in the air.
