NEW DELHI: Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green revealed on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver played a pivotal role in convincing him not to retire following his recent suspension.
Green faced an indefinite suspension for striking Jusuf Nurkic of the Phoenix Suns in the face during a game on December 12. The NBA reinstated Green on Saturday after serving a suspension that caused him to miss 12 games.
Green shared the details of his conversation with Commissioner Silver, stating, “I told him, ‘Adam, this is too much for me.
… It’s all becoming too much for me — and I’m going to retire.’ And Adam said, ‘You’re making a very rash decision and I won’t let you do that.'” Green expressed gratitude for the supportive conversation, emphasizing Silver’s approach of helping players rather than punishing them.
The Warriors forward had maintained that the incident leading to his suspension, an arm swing that caught Nurkic in the face, was unintentional. Despite Green’s explanation, this marked the sixth suspension of his career.
In response to his reinstatement, the NBA stated that Green had “completed steps that demonstrated his commitment to conforming his conduct to standards expected of NBA players.” The league noted his engagement in counseling sessions and joint meetings with representatives of the NBA, the Warriors, and the National Basketball Players Association.
Green, who is in his 12th season with the Golden State Warriors, is set to undergo conditioning with the team before resuming his season. In the 15 games played this season, he has averaged 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists.
Green is a key figure in the Warriors’ success, having won four NBA titles with the team, earned four All-Star selections, and secured two All-NBA honors during his career. His decision not to retire reflects a commitment to continue contributing to the Warriors’ ongoing season and pursuit of success in the NBA.
