Suns React to Draymond Green Punch: 'He Needs Help'
PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns emerged victorious in 119-116 fashion, though it's clear nobody will remember the final outcome after Golden State Warriors big man Draymond Green gave fans some extra talking points on the drive home.
He also probably gave the NBA some extra talking points for another suspension.
With 8:23 left in the third quarter, Green - being guarded by Jusuf Nurkic - spun around and punched Nurkic, immediately dropping the Suns center to the floor and spurring an official review.
It didn't take long for the officials to see what transpired, and Green was promptly ejected.
Nurkic ultimately ended up being fine, and though the Suns were happy to escape with a win, they had their own feelings on what Green did.
"I didn't see a replay of it but it just looked like a reckless, dangerous play. Sensitive to our guys getting hit on plays like that. So I didn't like it," said Suns coach Frank Vogel following the game. "Refs did what they had to do and the league will do what they have to do."
Green scored just two points in the seventeen minutes he played.
Nurkic on what happened:
"I don't know man. I was behind the play. What's going on [with] him, I don't know. Personally, I feel like that brother need the help. I'm glad he [did] not trying to choke me, but at the same time it had nothing to do with basketball. I'm just out there trying to play basketball, they're swinging. ... hopefully whatever he got in his life, it gets better."
Devin Booker didn't offer much on his end:
"He wears his emotions as every top competitor does, and it got out of hand."
Green has previously been suspended five times in his NBA career:
2016 NBA Finals - Punched LeBron James in the groin area and assessed a technical, his fourth flagrant foul and causing him to miss a pivotal Game 5. As you recall, that was the year the Cavaliers erased a 3-1 series deficit to win.
2018-19 - Green was suspended one game by Golden State after a very heated argument between him and Kevin Durant. Many believe this was a focal point of Durant's eventual departure from the Warriors.
March 2023 - Green accrued 16 technical fouls and was suspended for one game after his 16th tech saw him toss a ball at Russell Westbrook's head.
April 2023 - In the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, Green stomped on the chest of Domantas Sabonis, causing him to miss Game 3 of the series against the Sacramento Kings.
November 2023 - Green was suspended for five games after he grabbed Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert around the neck.
Also notable is the punch he threw against Jordan Poole during a team practice in 2022, which he was fined for but ultimately wasn't suspended.
We'll see what action the NBA takes, though it's clear Phoenix wasn't pleased at all with what transpired on the court.
The Suns are back in action on Wednesday when the Brooklyn Nets come to town.
