Draymond Green from the Warriors painfully admits to the incident with Jusuf Nurkic

After Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green criticized Jusuf Nurkic for Nadzi MarshallIn the altercation, he offered his perspective on his mindset during his discussion with the Suns center. It wasn’t the first time he tangled with an opposing big; Green has a history with Zach Eddy of the Memphis Grizzlies, but focused on fighting Nurkic in 2023-24.

Green received 12 games for punching Nurkic in the face. Since then, Draymond says therapy and a critical conversation with NBA commissioner Adam Silver have extended his career. The 13-year veteran was considering retirement. Recalling his incident with Nukić on December 12, 2023, Green he says he was physically at the Phoenix Suns’ Footprint Center, but mentally he was elsewhere, according to ESPN’s Ohm Jangmisuk.

“I wasn’t even at the game that night,” Green said. “I didn’t want to be there.” I didn’t feel like I was there. My body was there. My mind was not at all. My emotions were not at all. I wasn’t there.

“I was there because I had to be there. I was not interested in the game, to be on the floor. I was just there.”

Green received an indefinite suspension, the sixth suspension of his career. He received a five-game suspension for benching Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert and one game for punching Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis in the stomach during a first-round playoff game.

Longtime Warriors coach Steve Kerr says Green is in much better shape this season.

“He was always so passionate,” Kerr said. “And when things go wrong and his passion gets away from him, it turns into rage.” … The family is in a good place; he is a great dad. He loves his children. Last year, he recognized the impact his actions had on his young children. He doesn’t want his children to see him in that light.

Draymond Green pledges to improve his behavior for the Warriors

A war veteran Draymond Green’s discovery brought out the best in it. After the incident with Jusuf Nurkic, Green sees two therapists and does everything to stay out of trouble. His open and honest conversation with NBA commissioner Adam Silver had a huge impact on his improvement.

“We wanted Draymond to address what he identified as the underlying issues surrounding his behavior on the court,” Silver said. “He devoted himself wholeheartedly to the job, including counseling and regular check-ins with the league office and the players’ association, which continued long after he was reinstated.”

Green and the Warriors will take on the Raptors on Monday.