The National Basketball Association announced a five-game suspension for Golden State veteran forward Draymond Green on Wednesday night.
The five-game ban without pay comes for “escalating an on-court altercation” early in the first quarter of Tuesday’s 104-101 home loss to Minnesota. Green was one of the three players ejected along with teammate Klay Thompson and Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels.
Thompson and McDaniels were both fined $25,000, in addition to Rudy Gobert.
In a statement, NBA executive VP Joe Dumars said Green was suspended for “forcibly grabbing” Gobert around the neck “in an unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner.” Dumars added that Green’s history of unsportsmanlike conduct factored into the length of his suspension.
The punishment will result in the loss of $769,9870 of wages for Green, who will miss games against the Rockets, Suns, Spurs and two contests against the Thunder.
Less than two minutes into Tuesday’s contest, McDaniels and Thompson got into it going up the court in transition. The skirmish became more physical with neither player letting go of each other as they moved up the court.
As Gobert moved in to separate the two players, Green went after Gobert and basically locked in what mixed-martial-arts analysts would call a rear-naked choke. Coaches and players quickly got Green and Gobert separated, while other coaches and players forced Thompson and McDaniels apart.
Once order was restored, McDaniels and Thompson were both issued a pair of technical fouls, while Green was given a flagrant foul 2.
Gobert wasn’t happy about being assessed a fine.
“Every situation is different, but to me, that was more than just a reaction. That was a personal attack,” Gobert said. “Me being fined when I was being a peacemaker, and I chose to keep my hands up while I was being assaulted, it’s shameful. Shameful. And I’m going to appeal that fine.”
This is the fifth time Green has been suspended by the NBA during his storied career. He had to sit out Game 3 in the opening round of last year’s playoffs against Sacramento after stomping on the chest of downed Sacramento center Domantas Sabonis.
Green was also suspended for Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals.
In nine games this year, Green is averaging 8.8 points, 5.7 assists, 5.1 and 5.1 rebounds per game.