Draymond Green Faces Five-Game Suspension for On-Court Altercation with Rudy Gobert
Introduction
Draymond Green, the veteran forward for the Golden State Warriors, has once again found himself in trouble with the NBA. As a result of his on-court headlock of Rudy Gobert, Green has been suspended for five games without pay. This suspension will not only cost Green $769,970 but also force the Warriors to play without two of their key players.
Stephen Curry’s Injury
In addition to Green’s suspension, the Warriors are also dealing with the absence of superstar guard Stephen Curry, who is currently sidelined with a sore knee.
The NBA’s Decision
The NBA announced on Thursday that Green’s suspension was due to his “escalating an on-court altercation and forcibly grabbing Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert around the neck in an unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner.” This decision was influenced by Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts.
Past Suspensions
This is not the first time Green has faced suspension. In the 2016 NBA Finals, he was infamously suspended for accumulating too many flagrant fouls in the playoffs. Unfortunately for the Warriors, they blew a 3-1 lead against LeBron James’ Cleveland Cavaliers and lost the championship series. Green was also suspended during the 2023 playoffs.
Green’s Defiance
Despite facing consistent punishment from the NBA, Green has remained defiant. He even punched former teammate Jordan Poole during a Golden State practice. In 2023, Green stated, “Here I am, still sitting here, still winning. They created those rules before, they didn’t work, they still don’t work. Maybe they did, but Draymond won’t be moved by no Draymond rules. I will continue to play the game how I play the game, operate how I operate, be exactly who I am, because that leads to winning.”
Current Standings
The Warriors currently have a 6-6 record at the start of the new season and are tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for seventh place in the Western Conference.