Getty Image / Thearon W. Henderson
After yet another violent outburst during a game, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was suspended by commissioner Adam Silver indefinitely. Now, longtime Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has spoken out about the star’s suspension.
Steve Kerr spoke about the suspension and what he expects from Draymond prior to the Warriors’ 121-113 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Here’s the clip.
Steve Kerr addressed Draymond Green’s indefinite suspension for the first time:
“It’s about more than basketball. It’s about helping Draymond … The one who choked Rudy (Gobert)… the one who punched Jordan (Poole) last year, that’s the guy who needs to change.” pic.twitter.com/KozrfwmhUF
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) December 15, 2023
Green was suspended indefinitely after striking Suns big man Jusuf Nurkic in the face during game action on Tuesday.
Draymond Green was ejected from Warriors-Suns after this flagrant foul on Jusuf Nurkic.
(via @BleacherReport)pic.twitter.com/6wFJIp7htu
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 13, 2023
It came just a few weeks after he was suspended five games for choking Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert during a scuffle. It’s the sixth time that Draymond Green has been suspended in his career.
Commissioner Adam Silver has clearly had enough of his behavior, as he’s been cheap-shotting opposing players for well over a decade now. He wants Draymond Green to attend counseling and take some steps towards preventing these kinds of incidents from occurring in the fure before he allows him to return to play.
As for Steve Kerr, his comments seem hollow to me. It’s not like Draymond Green just recently started having violent outbursts. He’s been doing it for most of his career. A suspension during the 2016 NBA Finals may have cost the team and NBA Title. Two years ago, he sucker-punched then-teammate Jordan Poole. The collective response from the Warriors organization was more-or-less “that’s Draymond being Draymond.” His behavior has been ignored by Kerr and others for a long time. Now, when it’s evident he doesn’t help the team all that much anymore, they will act very concerned about it. Sounds phony to me.
The Warriors sit at 10-14 on the season.