The NBA reinstated Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green on Saturday following his suspension that resulted in him missing 12 games.
The league had indefinitely suspended Green on Dec. 14 after he punched Phoenix’s Jusuf Nurkic on the face during a game on Dec. 12, the latest incident in a sometimes tempestuous career.
The NBA, in a statement, said Green “completed steps that demonstrated his commitment to conforming his conduct to standards expected of NBA players. He has engaged in meetings with a counselor and has met jointly on multiple occasions with representatives of the NBA, the Warriors, and the National Basketball Players Association, both of which will continue throughout the season.”
Green, 33, is expected to rejoin the team to get in shape before restarting his season. He had maintained that the arm swing that caught Nurkic in the face and led to his ejection was an accident.
Green was thrown out of the game for delivering a wild open-hand punch that caught Nurkic. Nurkic was defending Green and had a hand on Green’s hip when Green turned and swung and made contact. The blow sent Nurkic down to the floor and an offensive foul was called on Green with 8:23 left in the third quarter. Green was ejected for the third time this season.
He also made headlines on Nov. 14 when he was ejected for putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock during an on-court scrum.
That led to a five-game suspension for Green, who was first thrown out of a game this season on Nov. 11 after being tagged with two technical fouls against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He has been suspended six times in his career.
In 15 games this season, Green has averaged 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists. He is in his 12th season with Golden State and has won four NBA titles with the Warriors. He’s also a four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection.
–Field Level Media