SAN FRANCISCO — The NBA reinstated Draymond Green from his 12-game suspension on Saturday, and sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that the Golden State Warriors forward is expected to need about a week of ramp-up before returning to game action.
Sources said Green will be away from the team and return to the Warriors practice facility on Sunday while he works through his suspension.
The NBA announced Green's indefinite suspension on Dec. 13, a day after he hit center Jusuf Nurkic during a game against the Phoenix Suns.
“Green's closing steps demonstrated his commitment to conform his conduct to the standards expected of NBA players,” the league said in a statement. “He has been in meetings with a counselor and has had multiple joint meetings with representatives of the NBA, Warriors and National Basketball Association, both of which will continue throughout the season.”
According to Wojnarowski, Green's agent, Clutch CEO Rich Ball, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and team coach Rick Celebrini held team meetings via video calls — part of what the NBA described as a meeting. League and Team Conditions” Green had to fulfill before his reinstatement.
After a string of court incidents involving Green, the league proposed that the path toward reinstatement centered on counseling. A few weeks before attacking Nurkic, Greene put Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert in a chokehold.
Golden State adopted the league's approach.
“The one who choked Rudy, the one who took the wild split on Joseph, the one who punched Jordan. [Poole] Last year — that guy has to change,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the day after Green's suspension was announced. “It's not just an explosion on the court. It is about his life. It's about someone I trust, someone I've known for decades, and I love him for his loyalty.”
While Green was out, he had little contact with Kerr and most of his teammates.
“Space is important to him and to us,” Kerr said Thursday. “We're trying to win games and he's trying to put himself in a position to come back.”
According to ESPN's Bobby Marks , Green lost a total of less than $2 million during the suspension, saving Golden State nearly $9 million on their projected luxury tax bill.
The Warriors went 7-5 in 12 games with Green out. Overall, Golden State is 10-10 this season when Green is unavailable (due to injury or suspension) and 7-8 in the 15 games he has played.
Golden State hosts the Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans and travels to the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks next week.
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