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NBA suspends Warriors’ Draymond Green 5 games for ‘dangerous’ headlock on Rudy Gobert
The NBA has handed down a five-game suspension without pay to Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green for his role in escalating an on-court altercation and forcefully grabbing Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert around the neck. Joe Dumars, the league’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations, announced the suspension in a news release on Wednesday.
The incident occurred with 10:17 remaining in the first quarter of the Timberwolves’ 104-101 victory on Tuesday, with the score tied at 0-0. The altercation ensued when Golden State’s Klay Thompson and Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels engaged in a scuffle near midcourt. Gobert intervened to separate Thompson and McDaniels, at which point Green joined the fray and placed his arms around Gobert’s neck in a chokehold-like maneuver, dragging him away in that position.
McDaniels, Thompson, and Green were ejected from the game, but Gobert was deemed a peacemaker and allowed to remain. Despite this, the NBA imposed a $25,000 fine on Gobert, as well as Thompson and McDaniels, “for their roles in the incident.” Green will forfeit $769,704 in salary.
This marks the second suspension for Green in 24 games, spanning from Game 2 of Golden State’s first-round playoff series against Sacramento last season to the current season. The NBA cited the length of the suspension as partially based on Green’s history of unsportsmanlike acts.
Draymond Green, known for his physical style of play, will miss upcoming games against Oklahoma City on Thursday, Oklahoma City on Saturday, Houston on Monday, Phoenix on Nov. 22, and San Antonio on Nov. 24.
The Warriors, currently 6-6, are facing challenges with a four-game losing streak, exacerbated by the absence of star guard Steph Curry due to a right knee issue. Green, a four-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA selection, and key member of Golden State’s championship teams, has been a significant contributor throughout his career but is no stranger to suspensions for on-court incidents.
