Adrian Wojnarowski, Senior NBA Insider January 4, 2024, 2:08 p.m. ET
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- Joined ESPN in 2017
Golden State forward Draymond Green, who has been suspended indefinitely from the league since Dec. 13, is expected to return to the Warriors' facility in the coming days to begin preparations for the resumption of play, announced Sources told ESPN on Thursday.
Green will miss his 11th game when the Warriors face the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, but his plan to rejoin the team to get back in shape is the final step toward restarting his season.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has final say on the reinstatement timeline, but Green is expected to have met the league's requirements for a return once he is deemed properly fit to play, sources said .
During his absence from the Warriors since hitting Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic during a game on Dec. 12, Green has participated in individual counseling sessions and regular virtual meetings involving team, league and union officials to discuss his To determine progress toward reinstatement, sources told ESPN. The Zoom meetings play a role in how the NBA, the National Basketball Players Association and the Warriors Green's progress in addressing any issues that may have contributed to repeated violent episodes involving opponents and a former teammate, sources said.
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Green – a four-time champion and two-time All-NBA player – was described as outspoken and engaging following the league-imposed suspension.
Green's agent, Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports; Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.; team coach Rick Celebrini; and NBPA and NBA officials are part of these ongoing meetings, sources said.
Those meetings were part of what the NBA described as “certain league and team conditions” that Green must meet before his suspension is lifted. The NBA, the NBPA, the Warriors and Green played a role in preparing this unique, indefinite suspension, but the NBA has the final say on Green's eventual return. The league proposed the idea after back-to-back violent altercations against Minnesota's Rudy Gobert in November and Nurkic in mid-December.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he has had little contact with Green in recent weeks, but the two have exchanged a few text messages.
“But we gave him his space and he gave us ours,” Kerr said.
The Warriors were 6-5 during Green's suspension as they continue to struggle to find consistency in their play. Kerr has changed his starting lineup twice during Green's absence – the most recent change aimed at improving the starting group's defense.
Jonathan Kuminga started in Green's place. Kerr told ESPN's Kendra Andrews, “There is a world where… [Kuminga] can start for the rest of the year,” as long as the third-year forward continues to play well and the team wins.
In the first season of a four-year, $100 million contract, Green will lose $153,941 for each game he is suspended for.