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The NBA reinstated Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green following his 12-game suspension, the league announced Saturday. Green has been receiving counseling for several weeks in addition to holding progress meetings with the league and the Warriors.
“During the period of his suspension, which began on December 14 and led to him missing 12 games, Green completed steps that demonstrated his commitment to aligning his conduct with the standards expected of NBA players,” Joe Dumars, executive vice president and head of basketball operations for the NBA, said in a statement.
“He has held meetings with a counselor and has met jointly on multiple occasions with representatives from the NBA, the Warriors and the National Basketball Players Association, which will continue throughout the season.”
The NBA has published the following. pic.twitter.com/dlFtd7okI7
– NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 6, 2024
The four-time NBA champion was suspended indefinitely after punching Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face during the Warriors’ Dec. 12 matchup against Phoenix. Golden State is 7-5 in Green’s absence and has a 17-18 record.
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What is the significance of Green’s return?
The Warriors get their best defender back. He is a coordinator on the court and we miss him.
The Warriors had a defensive rating of 119.8 in his 12-game absence, eighth-worst in the NBA during that span. They’ve solved some of their early-season offensive woes, curbing their turnovers while picking up their pace, but this team can’t be taken seriously until they start making more stops. Nobody in the world, when eligible and physically fit, helps you stop better than Green. — Anthony Slater, Warriors senior writer
When will he return?
Green and Rick Celebrini, who makes the team’s primary medical decisions, will determine that. There will be some kind of acceleration process. He will not play Sunday against the Toronto Raptors at home, although Green is eligible. The Warriors will then have two days off before a home game Wednesday against the Pelicans and then begin a four-game road trip next Friday night in Chicago. — Slater
The biggest question surrounding Green upon his return
Who gets the minutes and how long can they stay out of the league’s spotlight? Jonathan Kuminga started all 12 games Green missed and has performed well enough to hold his spot and his heavy load of minutes. In the previous game he played 36 minutes, the most of his career.
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The Warriors are likely to bring Green back into the fold off the bench and could theoretically make him their starting center. The night he fouled Nurkić, Kuminga had replaced Kevon Looney in the starting lineup to open the second half and Green had moved into the five spot. — Slater
Required reading
(Photo: Tony Ding / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)