- Green was handed an indefinite suspension after striking Phoenix’s Jusuf Nurkic
- In November, Green was also sanctioned for putting Rudy Gobert in a headlock
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Draymond Green has opened up on how an emotional conversation with Adam Silver stopped him walking away from basketball in December.
In a new episode of ‘The Draymond Green Show’, Golden State’s star forward revealed that the NBA commissioner encouraged him to stick around – despite his indefinite suspension.
The ban came as a result of Green hitting Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic’s face with his forearm on December 12.
‘I told him: “Adam this is too much for me. This is too much. It’s all becoming too much for me – and I’m going to retire,”‘ Green said in a clip shared with ESPN. ‘And Adam said: “You’re making a very rash decision and I won’t let you do that.”‘
‘We had a long, great conversation – (it was) very helpful to me. (I’m) very thankful to play in a league with a commissioner like Adam, who’s more about helping you than hurting you; helping you than punishing you. He’s more about the players.’
Green’s strike on Nurkic resulted in his second suspension this season.
The first came after Green put Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a chokehold during a scuffle on November 14. The NBA suspended Green for five games following the headlock.
The NBA reinstated Green on Saturday after he underwent counseling for the past month. Green rejoined his team in practice on Sunday and is reportedly expected to take the floor in the coming week.
In Green’s absence, the Warriors have continued to struggle. Golden State currently holds a 17-19 record, having won only two of its last seven games. Steve Kerr’s side currently sits 11th in the NBA’s Western Conference.
After signing a four-year, $100m extension, Green is losing $153,941 for every game his sits out with a suspension.