NBA chief explains Green suspension as Warriors handed further Play-Off blow

19 April 2023 , 18:13

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Draymond Green stepped down hard on Domantas Sabonis (Image: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has been handed a one-game suspension for stamping on Domantas Sabonis during their 114-106 loss to Sacramento Kings, and NBA vice president Joe Dumars has explained why.

During the fourth quarter of the second Play-Off clash between the Warriors and the Kings, Green stepped on Sabonis after the pair clashed, and was ejected from the game. The Warriors are now 0-2 for the first-round series, and Green will be out for what could be a pivotal third match.

Sabonis lost his footing and grabbed Green's right leg as he fell to the ground, which triggered an angry reaction from the Warriors star. Green was ejected after leaving Sabonis on the deck for several minutes, and Dumars has come down hard on the "repeat offender".

Sabonis sustained a bruised sternum after colliding with Green, who then proceeded to taunt and spark fury amongst the Kings fans. It's the 17th time that Green has been ejected in his NBA career, and Dumars admitted that his track record played a part in his inevitable suspension.

"Here's what it came down to: excessive and over-the-top actions, conduct detrimental and a repeat offender," Dumars told ESPN in a phone interview Wednesday morning. "That's what separates this where you end up with a suspension.

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"You know what the situation is, but you have to set that aside and look at the facts in front of you. ... Repeat offender weighs as heavy as anything."

Joe Dumars discussed Draymond Green's suspension (Michael Kovac/Getty Images)

Portland Trail Blazers point-guard Damian Lillard was one NBA rival to come out in support of Green as he tweeted: "A suspension is crazy" in response to the ban.

It's the fourth suspension in Green's career, with the physical star also being flagged for 163 technical fouls in the NBA so far. Dumars even hinted that if Green didn't have an aggressive track record then he may not have been suspended for game three.

When asked if another player would've been given a suspension, Dumars said: "It may have been, but the act itself still would have been looked at in a serious way -- stomping on a guy's chest. On the back end of this act, you add repeat offender and that's how you end up getting to a suspension."

Green was outraged that Sabonis wasn't also ejected for his part in the entanglement, which led to an on-court tantrum from Green. But Dumars doesn't think this is justified, as Sabonis was punished with a technical foul.

"Sabonis was penalised in the game with a technical foul, and Golden State gets the free throw," Dumars added. "It wasn't like [Sabonis] didn't get off without any punishment, but we didn't think that rose to the level of excessive and over-the-top, conduct detrimental and repeat offender. That's why you separate those two and deal with one act on the court -- and then another act."

Joseph McBride