Troubling Antics of NBA's Draymond Green Tear Up the League
Calling Him Out: Green's Misconduct
Dubbed as the world's biggest "asshole" by some of his league peers, power forward Draymond Green's unbecoming outbursts on the court have once again caused a stir. His latest antics involved delivering a roundhouse kick to Phoenix Suns' center Jusuf Nurkic, an incident that earned him his third disqualification in just 15 appearances during the 2022-23 season. This embarrassing behavior capped off a series of misconduct incidents dating back to the 2015 NBA season. This string of brutal episodes has now placed the league in an unenviable position.
Can't Aim for the Ball, But Targets Opponents Instead
Green apologized to Nurkic, noting that the foul was unwarranted and regrettable. However, the league had to get involved with his long history of offensive actions. In 2022, Green was suspended for targeting Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert with a chokehold, dragging the Frenchman across the court while packing on a considerable amount of force. This was just weeks after serving a five-game suspension for a physical altercation with Detroit Pistons' Blake Griffin, testimony to the Warriors forward's deeply entrenched issues with composure.
Discipline Gone AWOL: Open-Ended Suspension
Green has attracted an unparalleled 20 disciplinary actions in his NBA career, making him the second-ranked offender behind ex-Pistons player Rasheed Wallace. In a move unprecedented in NBA history, the league imposed an indeterminate suspension to allow Green time for self-reflection and rehabilitation – possibly anywhere from several weeks to a few months. This was not a typical fixed-length ban, emphasizing a long-term rehabilitation plan that targeted the root of the problem, with the aim of halting his descent into old destructive patterns.
Clearing the Air
Green’s coach, Steve Kerr, threw in a revelation during the press conference announcing the suspension, explaining that Green's actions extended beyond basketball: "It's about more than just basketball, it's about helping Draymond find some distance and make some changes in his life."
Green's Stormy History
His discipline issues are by no means recent. It was back in 2016 when Green injured Oklahoma City Thunder's Steven Adams in consecutive playoff games, delivering a brutal kick to Adams' private parts during the finals. Its 2018 sequel involved Green physically assaulting teammate Kevin Durant during a televised game.
Moreover, an altercation with a teammate during training before the 2022-23 season earned Green a week-long ban and hefty fine, followed by another one-game ban for kicking Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings.
Golden State’s Unyielding Duplicity
Why would the team defy logic and endure a player who increasingly appears to lose control? They have a coach that continues to back Green, a devoted helper for MVP poser Stephen Curry, a flawless defender, and the team's emotional rock. His prowess on the court is worth the conflict; Green's defensive acumen is merely unparalleled. Standing at 1.98 meters tall, Green transformed the NBA's defensive game, showing exceptional versatility in guarding 7-foot players while standing his ground against smaller, quicker guards.
In Golden State's record-breaking 2015-16 season, Green demonstrated his immeasurable value to the team, boasting a 3-1 series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers before a tame excursion threatened their championship victory. Green, unexpectedly, punched LeBron James during the game, an act that cost the Dubs their chance to establish an insurmountable advantage in the series.
Ironically, Green's contributions to the team have earned him a four-year, $100 million contract extension, a deal no doubt driven by Stephen Curry's dedication to the Warriors cornerstone.
Bad Season for the Warriors
This season, the Warriors' fortunes have turned sour. Despite Green's suspension, the team's logic-defying choice to stick with him remains a constant in their otherwise dismal performance. However, Green's negative impact on team dynamics and morale is noteworthy. As the season progresses, the team’s performance has suffered with Green's aggressive behavior becoming a toxic presence.
Is This the Last Chapter for Green and the Warriors?
No one knows the depths of Green's malaise, and the franchise is unwilling to divulge Green's private issues. While connecting with fellow teammates was crucial in the past, Green's current isolation – illustrated by a noticeable absence of key teammates like Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, and Bob Myers – is fueling speculation.
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Remarkably, Green was first suspended for his aggressive behavior towards Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, an incident that saw Green lock his arms around Gobert and drag him across the floor. This occurred, ironically, just weeks after Green's five-game suspension for an altercation with Detroit Pistons' Blake Griffin.
NBA Delivers Unprecedented Suspension
In a move that set the NBA world ablaze, the league imposed an unprecedented open-ended suspension on Green, marking a departure from the typical fixed-length punishment. This new approach focused on providing Green a platform to identify the causes behind his behavioral issues and work on preventing such relapses. The exact length of the suspension remains undisclosed, with possible durations ranging from a few weeks to several months.
Steve Kerr, Green's head coach, acknowledged the gravity of the situation beyond basketball: "It's more than just basketball. It's about helping Draymond find some distance and make some changes in his life."
Stomach Churning History
Green's disciplinary issues date back to 2016 when, in the height of the playoffs, he kicked Oklahoma City Thunder's Steven Adams twice in the private parts, an act that ultimately resulted in Green being banned from the following game. The repercussions of Green's actions went far beyond this isolated incident, resulting in lasting ramifications for both the Warriors and the Thunder.
In 2016, during the NBA Finals, Green undermined the Warriors' pursuit of a fifth title by punching LeBron James in the private parts, an unsportsmanlike act that resulted in a suspension for Game 5. The untamed energy Green displayed during that series plunged the Warriors into a senseless comeback, with the Cleveland Cavaliers ultimately triumphing 4-3.
In the 2018 season, Green was suspended for an altercation with then Warriors teammate Kevin Durant during a nationally prism televised game, carrying on a stormy relationship with a player who was once a valued comrade.
A Team Stuck in a Rut
The 2022-23 season has been infamous for the Warriors' crippling performance, with deflating losses and lackluster efforts causing their win-loss record to plummet compared to their previous season. The Warriors have tumbled down the NBA's rankings, languishing in 11th place and perilously close to the play-in tournament. Having Green's obstinate attitude on the court has further complicated their troubles, with his disruptive antics compromising team cohesion and undermining morale.
Trapped in Darkness?
The cause for Green's demise is shrouded in mystery, as the team and Green himself have remained tight-lipped about his unraveling emotional state. Previous teammates such as Bob Myers, Shaun Livingston, and Andre Iguodala served as guiding hands, playing a significant role in helping Green navigate his stormy days. In recent years, however, it seems that Green has drifted away from such positive influences.
In a chilling turn of events, a training ground spat between Green and youngster Jordan Poole was captured on video and leaked to tabloid TMZ. The ensuing drama placed the Warriors in a thorny predicament, forcing Green to self-impose a temporary absence and pay a hefty fine. But the resurfacing of his prickly demeanor remains a concern for both the team and the wider NBA universe.
Last Chance for Redemption and the "Dubs"
By the conclusion of December 2022, Marianas Trench separates the Warriors from the playoffs, with their win-loss record sitting at 10-14. This stark difference contrasts the promising 24-5 record their on-fire 2019-20 season boasted at the same point, a stark reminder of the Warriors' crumbling dynasty. The future looks uncertain for the indomitable Green, who remains the embodiment of both the Warriors' genius and their shortcoming, excitement and pain conflating in an exhilarating and agonizing tableau.
The dreadful denouement of the Warriors' legend leaves many wondering what could transpire over the forthcoming seasons. Is Green's defeatist streak a manifestation of a raconteur desperate for one final curtain call, a player whose own genius sabotaged his survival in basketball's pinnacle – the NBA? Ultimately, the season's twists and turns as well as the interplay between Green's future with the Warriors are up for grabs, the consequences of his volatile displays yet to be revealed as the ribbons of fate repent in balletic contortions.
Checking Up on the NBA
In the meantime, the National Basketball Association (NBA) strives to reap dividends by attracting eyeballs and attracting a diverse fan base through titillating storylines, sparing no expense to unearth profound narratives that weave in and out of the parquet. Draymond Green's tumultuous journey shapes an idyllic concoction, an volatile narrative crafted on the precipice of both devastation and redemption.
Stay tuned as the NBA's thrilling carnival of spectacles unfolds in the coming seasons!
The grueling run-ins Green has with his contemporaries have spawned a deeply perplexed and exasperated NBA league. Will Green return rejuvenated following a stringent rehabilitation program, or is his enigmatic brilliance slipping further away? Only time will tell.
