For the third time in under two months of the season, Warriors forward Draymond Green is at the center of another on-court incident. This time, it involved Suns center Jusuf Nurkic.
Early in the second half of Golden State's 119-116 loss to Phoenix, Green was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul after striking Nurkic in the face, sending the Suns big man to the floor. As a Flagrant 2 results in an automatic ejection, Green was ejected for a third time this season. He's appeared in 15 games.
After the game, Green offered an explanation of his actions.
"I do apologize to Jusuf because I didn't intend to hit him … I was just selling a call because he was grabbing me and pulling my hip back so I spun away and, unfortunately, I hit him."
MORE: Everything you need to know about latest Draymond Green ejection
When Nurkic stepped to the podium postgame, he offered comments suggesting that there was intent to Green's actions, citing a repeated pattern of behavior and Green's recent infractions.
"What's going on with him, I don't know," Nurkic said of Green. "Personally, I feel like that brother needs help.
"I'm glad he didn't try to choke me. At the same time, it had nothing to do with basketball, man. I'm just out there trying to play basketball, he's out there swinging. I think we've seen that often. I hope whatever he's got in his life — it gets better."
Jusuf Nurkic on the Draymond Green Flagrant 2: “What’s going on with him, I don’t know. Personally, I feel like that brother needs help. I’m glad he didn’t try to choke me.” pic.twitter.com/NIVmKSEjmF
— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) December 13, 2023
Nurkic saying "I'm glad he didn't try to choke me" is a direct callback to Green's first major infraction of the season, as he was suspended five games for placing Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a chokehold-like headlock.
MORE: Complete history of Draymond Green suspensions
It's unclear whether or not Green's apology had made it to Nurkic before he spoke with reporters postgame, but Nurkic's comments suggest that he believes that Draymond's actions have been a reflection of something deeper that's going on.
Over the last two seasons, Green has been fined for punching then-teammate Jordan Poole during a training camp practice, suspended for stomping on the chest of Kings forward Domantas Sabonis during the playoffs and suspended for the Gobert headlock.
In November, the league cited "Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts" as the partial basis of his receiving a five-game suspension. That history could again come into play as the NBA determines a punishment for his most recent flagrant foul.
