The NBA has indefinitely suspended Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green after he struck Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face, earning a Flagrant 2 foul and an ejection. The suspension, announced less than 24 hours after the incident, is Green’s second this season. The NBA’s operations chief, Joe Dumars, stated that Green must meet certain conditions before he can return to play, taking into account his history of unsportsmanlike behavior.
The altercation occurred early in the third quarter as Green and Nurkić were battling for position. After losing balance, Green unexpectedly turned and hit Nurkić in the face, leading to Nurkić falling to the ground. Although Nurkić continued to play, the referees reviewed the incident and ejected Green. This marks the 18th ejection of Green’s career, the most among active NBA players. The NBA’s decision follows a recent five-game suspension Green received in November for putting Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert in a headlock during another altercation. Indefinite suspensions are rare in the NBA, with a notable precedent being Gilbert Arenas’ indefinite suspension in 2010 for bringing firearms into the team locker room.
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