(Photo : Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 09: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the second quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on April 09, 2023 in Portland, Oregon.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been slapped with a one-game suspension over an incident wherein he stomped at the chest of Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis.
The NBA confirmed on Wednesday that Green would miss out on the Warriors vs. Kings Game 3 on April 20. The coach of the Warriors, Steve Kerr, says that the decision to suspend Green for Game 3 surprised him.
Draymond Green is Suspended for Warrior-Kings Game 3
According to ESPN, the NBA notified the Warriors' general manager Bob Myers of Green's suspension before the basketball league let the public know about it. The decision comes as a result of an incident involving Kings center Sabonis.
During the April 17 matchup between the Warriors and Kings, Green appeared to have stepped on the chest of Sabonis. The former says the Kings center grabbed his leg when the latter fell on the ground after a rebound scramble. And as such, the Warriors forward tried to free his leg from the grasp of Sabonis by shaking it. And as he found his balance, he stomped on the mid-section of the Kings player.
All these occurred early in the fourth quarter of the Warriors vs. Kings matchup in Game 2.
Given this, the official ejected Green from the Game 2 matchup over a Flagrant two foul. Although the Warriors forward says that it was intentional, some folks are saying otherwise. Others believe that Green stomped too hard than necessary. It is still an ongoing debate among fans right now.
Despite that, the NBA has slapped the Warriors player with a one-game suspension on top of his ejection last April 17. In a press release, the Executive Vice President of the NBA for Head of Basketball Operations, Joe Dumars, cites Green's history of unsportsmanlike acts for his one-game suspension.
The league says, "Green will serve his suspension on April 20 when the Warriors host the Kings for Game 3 of the series at Chase Center."
Read Also: Warriors' Draymond Green Ejection: Why Did He Stomp Domantas Sabonis?
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 02: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors complains about a call during their game against the LA Clippers at Chase Center on March 02, 2023 in San Francisco, California.
Warriors Coach Reacts to Green's Suspension
The decision struck the Warriors coach Steve Kerr by surprise. According to CBS Sports, he admitted that he was "extremely surprised" by the decision of the NBA to suspend Green. Kerr disclosed that the Warriors forward has already his teammates after the stomping incident during their practice on Wednesday.
While the one-game suspension surprised him, the Warriors coach is now moving forward. After all, it is out of his control. Instead, he says, "We know what the league decided to do, and we must respond accordingly." Kerr further offers that they have no time to dwell on it.
"I'll let everybody else play judge," the Warriors coach says. With the one-game suspension, the team will go against the Kings in Game 3 at the Chase Center without Green.
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