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The fallout from a basketball court altercation just days ago is coming to light, with Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green receiving a multi-game suspension without pay.
Tuesday's game between the Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves got off to a fractious start, with a fight breaking out within the first few minutes of play.
A dispute that began with Warriors' player Klay Thompson and the Timberwolves' Jaden McDaniels happened early on, with the pair grabbing at each other's jerseys before teammates on both sides got involved.
The game was part of the NBA's In-Season Tournament, and although not the initial culprit in the altercation, Green was one of three players ejected from the game.
As things between Thompson and McDaniels heated up, Green jumped in to help his teammate, and after "forcibly grabbing" at rival team player Rudy Gobert, he has now been hit with a five-game suspension with no pay.
A statement on the NBA's official website reads: "Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been suspended [for] five games without pay for escalating an on-court altercation and forcibly grabbing Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert around the neck in an unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner.
"The length of the suspension is based in part on Green's history of unsportsmanlike acts."
His ban will start on Thursday (November 16) when the Warriors host the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The NBA statement added: "In addition, Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels and center Rudy Gobert have each been fined $25,000 for their roles in the incident, which started when Thompson and McDaniels became entangled and were grabbing and pulling at one another's jerseys, and continued when Gobert entered the situation and wrapped up Thompson."
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has commented on the news story with a figure he believes Green will lose.
Draymond Green will lose $769,970 with the five game suspension. https://t.co/NQmbRysOJr
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 16, 2023
On X, formerly Twitter, he posted: "Draymond Green will lose $769,970 with the five game suspension."
One social media user commented on the post, applauding the NBA's decision: "Good should be more honestly."
A second said: "The most protected player in the league, they should have kicked him out already."
Another commented: "That's nothing. Sitting out five games and a fine he won't even realize is missing from his paycheck? Green is perhaps the worst offender of the post-2000 era and is shameless and unapologetic in his violent and unsportsmanlike conduct.
"He deserves a real punishment. The league should suspend him for half the season. Never mind the money, he doesn't need money, he's fantastically wealthy. Make it hurt in the only way that will matter for him. Take away the game and make it hurt his team in a meaningful way or don't expect him to stop. Five games?!"
One jabbed: "Basketballers get paid way too much man."
To which a second echoed: "The amount of money these NBA players lose for fines could change a person life."
Some of his loyal fans jumped to his defense with comments such as "Should be $0," "That sucks!" and "What a joke."
Green also received support from the band Smash Mouth, who disputed any negative talk about Green's altercation, stating that he "protected his player."
He protected his player, that's what's up with Draymond! Take it case by case and in this case Dray was in the right. And nice hit piece on him dude, you obviously don't know how the Ws work and why they work.
— Smash Mouth (@smashmouth) November 15, 2023
In October last year, Green apologized to teammate Jordan Poole after a video of him physically confronting his teammate in a practice session came to light.
Tuesday was rife with on-court drama, with another fight breaking out during a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies.
Newsweek has contacted Green's talent agent via email for comment.
