Draymond Green suspended again
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Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, otherwise known as the super villain of the National Basketball Association, was suspended for the fifth time in his career following an altercation with players on the Minnesota Timberwolves last week. The suspension is slated to last for five games and will cost the star a little over $760,000.
Unfortunately, last week’s incident was not the first time Green has been in trouble with the NBA regarding his conduct on the basketball court. He was once ejected for kicking LeBron James in an area that does not feel too well. He also recently slammed his foot down on the chest of star player Domantas Sabonis during a playoff game against the Sacramento Kings last season. The stomp cost Green a playoff game and nearly cost his team a trip to the semi-finals.
The altercation came in the first quarter, only one-minute and forty-five seconds into the game, after teammate Klay Thompson had his jersey nearly ripped off his chest by Timberwolves guard Jaden McDaniels. In an attempt to retaliate Green then puts star center Rudy Gobert into a headlock after the center tried to intervene on behalf of his teammate. The headlock was deemed egregious, and Green was issued a flagrant foul II meaning he was to leave the court and stay in the locker room for the remainder of the game. McDaniels and Thompson were also ejected from the contest but on technical fouls.
Following the game in which the Timberwolves won by three points, the league launched an investigation into the incident to determine adequate punishment for everyone that was involved in the brawl. After roughly twenty-four hours, the commissioner determined that Green was the only athlete that needed to be suspended due to the egregiousness of the behavior demonstrated coupled with the repeated history of conduct detrimental to the league. Adam Silver ultimately handed down a five-game suspension (the harshest ever for a mid-game skirmish in NBA history).
Whether anyone is a Green fan or not his presence will be dearly missed. Since his arrival in the league, he has been responsible for some of the best defensive play by a forward in the history of the Golden State Warriors. Without his fire and super villain like persona, the Warriors would not have likely won the four championships they have in the past decade. However, playing with a chip on the shoulder with the goal of getting under people’s skin is one thing, stomping on a chest, hitting an agreed upon not to hit area, and putting someone in a chokehold is crossing the line, and the NBA is letting him know it. If the pattern continues, he could be looking at massive bans in his future.
More injuries in the NFL
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The season of injuries continued last week with star quarterback Deshawn Watson fracturing his shoulder, Joe Burrow spraining his wrist, and tight end Mark Andrews tearing his achilles. The injuries are just the latest in a wave that has engulfed the NFL this season.
So far this year many star players have been lost to significant injuries. Some of the notable names to be lost for significant periods of time include: Nick Chubb (Browns), Aaron Rodgers (Jets), Kirk Cousins (Vikings), Daniel Jones (Giants), Deshawn Watson (Browns), Tre’Davious White (Bills), Trevon Diggs (Cowboys), Justin Jefferson (Vikings), Anthony Richardson (Colts), the list goes on and on. Unfortunately to further compound the issue the NFL is having with injuries so far in 2023, they are to star players, players that people pay money to go and see. So far there has been no word from the league regarding the uptick in booboos, however if something does not change, this could be the beginning of an unfortunate trend.
