Draymond Green has only been suspended four times in his NBA career so far. And there’s a fifth incident that isn’t technically a suspension, but definitely felt like one.
I know, I know. That number feels like it should be much higher than it actually is.
But don’t get it twisted — he’s gotten himself caught up in numerous controversies throughout his time with the Warriors. But not many of them have resulted in him actually missing time like The Stomp.
While the suspensions haven’t come often, they have come in pivotal moments for the Warriors when the team needed its best defensive player the most. Green’s current situation counts as one of those moments.
Let’s take a look back at Green’s suspension history.
The Domantas Sabonis stomp
We all know what happened by now. Domantas Sabonis got a hold of Draymond Green’s ankle after falling down in the middle of the Warriors-Kings matchup.
Green apparently thought that meant dude was a trampoline, so he just jumped off of his chest. The timing of the suspension definitely stinks, but considering his history, it’s hard to argue against the league’s decision here.
With the latest suspension, Green became the first player in the last 10 years to be suspended in two separate NBA postseasons, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Draymond Green is the only player in the last 10 seasons to be suspended multiple times in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/suPG0BOafo
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 19, 2023
Ya hate to see it.
Throwing a ball at Russell Westbrook
OK, I won’t lie. This one is actually hilarious. Back in March, during a matchup with the Clippers, Green actually tossed a ball at Russell Westbrook’s head and got a technical foul.
Draymond Green throws the ball at Russell Westbrook’s head & receives his 16th tech of the season 😭 pic.twitter.com/LZRzZzVwrA
— ☘︎ (@CelticsRepublic) March 16, 2023
Now, he wasn’t actually suspended for throwing the ball at Russ. It just happened to be his 16th technical of the season, which automatically results in a suspension.
What a silly way to get a suspension.
The Kevin Durant incident
It’s been so long now so many people have forgotten about this moment, but the clash between Green and Kevin Durant in what was the former’s final year with the Warriors actually resulted in a suspension.
Another angle of KD and Draymond jawing at each other after regulation. pic.twitter.com/Lp7qazA7xt
— TheWarriorsTalk (@TheWarriorsTalk) November 13, 2018
Green called Durant out in the middle of the game and the two got into it in the huddle, which is what sparked the actual suspension.
This moment probably didn’t end the Durant-era Warriors, but it definitely feels like it ended the Durant-era Warriors. Draymond and KD keep telling us otherwise, but that’s pretty hard to believe considering the circumstances here.
The 2016 NBA Finals
Obviously we all know this one quite well. Green was suspended for Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers after getting tangled up with LeBron James and giving him a shot in the groin.
But don’t let this suspension distract you from the fact that THE WARRIORS BLEW A 3-1 LEAD WITH THE UNANIMOUS MVP. Did I do that right?
The Jordan Poole punch
Now, Draymond Green technically was not suspended for the incident with Jordan Poole.
But Green did stay away from the team for quite a while after the incident happened. And it also seems to have had a lingering effect on the Warriors’ season that Green blames himself for.
He said as much on his own podcast earlier this year.
“Our struggles this year hasn’t been because we not flicking a switch. … I think a lot of our shortcomings this year is my fault. Why is it my fault? Because I have not been the leader that I am and that I need to be for this team. And the reason I have not been that leader is also my fault. Right?”
Did it actually? I guess, technically, we’ll never really know. But if Green is saying as much then something is certainly there.
It’s only a shame that it doesn’t seem he’s learned from this at all. It’s just kind of who he is — for better or worse. The Warriors have to deal with that. That’s exactly what’s happening now.
