NBA Suspends Draymond Green and Fines Three Players After Melee
The NBA announced on Wednesday that Golden State forward Draymond Green will be suspended for five games following his role in a heated altercation during Tuesday’s game between the Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Green’s suspension will include missing two games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, as well as games against the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, and San Antonio Spurs. He will be eligible to return on November 28 against the Sacramento Kings.
In addition to Green’s suspension, the league also announced fines for Klay Thompson, Rudy Gobert, and Jaden McDaniels, all of whom will be fined $25,000 each for their involvement in the incident.
The altercation occurred shortly after the game began, with Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels and Warriors guard Klay Thompson getting tangled up as Golden State advanced the ball. The scuffle escalated as Thompson and McDaniels grappled with each other, leading to involvement from Gobert and ultimately Green.
Green grabbed Gobert from behind and put him in a chokehold, dragging him from halfcourt to near the Golden State free-throw line before dropping him to the court. Karl-Anthony Towns attempted to intervene, but Green eventually released Gobert. All three players involved in the initial scuffle – Thompson, McDaniels, and Green – were ejected from the game.
This is the fifth suspension of Green’s career, with NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars citing “Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts.” This history includes 163 technical fouls, 17 ejections, and three prior suspensions, including an incident last postseason when Green stomped on the chest of Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis.
As Green serves his suspension, the Warriors will be without one of their key players for a significant stretch of games. The team will have to regroup and adjust as they navigate Green’s absence on the court.