Warriors forward Draymond Green reinstated by NBA

The NBA has reinstated Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green after an indefinite suspension for hitting Phoenix Suns’ C Jusuf Nurkic in the face, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

The NBA has reinstated Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green after 12-game suspension, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Green has been undergoing counseling for several weeks along with holding progress meetings with the league and Warriors. pic.twitter.com/Bfedm89nBc

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 6, 2024

Green’s suspension ultimately lasted 12 games, and in the time that he was away from the team Charania reports that Green went to counseling and holding progress meetings with the NBA and Golden State.

On Thursday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Green was close to returning to practice and gameplay, with the timetable then being deemed “soon”.

Golden State’s Draymond Green — on an indefinite league suspension since Dec. 13 — is expected to return to the Warriors’ facility in the coming days to start ramping up to resume play again, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 4, 2024

The Warriors went 7-5 in Green’s absence, but with rumors of Jonathan Kuminga (who replaced Green in the starting lineup) losing faith in Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr’s ability to get Kuminga to his full potential, Green’s return can’t come soon enough. Golden State currently sits at the 10 seed in the West, 8.5 games back of top-seeded Minnesota.

Green’s exact return to the starting lineup has not been made public yet, but the Warriors have home games against the Raptors on Jan. 7 and the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 10 before beginning a four-game road trip.