Draymond Green has reportedly begun receiving the “help” that Jusuf Nurkic and others say he needs.
The Warriors forward has begun counseling, according to NBA reporter Shams Charania, and will be out for at least the next three weeks.
Green was suspended indefinitely by the league last week after striking Nurkic in the face during a game between the Warriors and the Suns, his third ejection this year and second for undue physicality.
The NBA, the Warriors and Green’s representation agreed that the four-time champion would work on himself before being allowed to return to the court for Golden State, general manager Mike Dunleavy said last Thursday.
Green’s suspension is about more than the Nurkic incident and his chokehold of Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert earlier this season. The league cited Green’s history of over-the-top physicality on the court in making his suspension indefinite.
“We understand there’s a punishment that will take place but this is also about helping somebody,” Dunleavy told reporters at shootaround before the Warriors’ loss to the Clippers.
Golden State is now 2-1 since Green was suspended and 5-7 this year without him. The Warriors swept a back-to-back this weekend — against the Nets and at Portland — to stabilize their rocky season.
They play 10 games over the next three weeks, all at home save for a Christmas Day visit to Denver. They face the Celtics tomorrow night, then host Jordan Poole and the Wizards on Friday. After returning from Denver, they host the Heat, Mavericks, Magic, Nuggets, Pistons and Raptors.
Dunleavy outlined the next 15-20 games as a key period for determining a path for this season, with the trade deadline looming Feb. 8 and the Warriors currently 11th in the West, one spot outside the play-in tournament and five places away from a guaranteed playoff berth.