Despite being only a quarter of the way through this ongoing NBA season, Draymond Green has already received three ejections and two suspensions. Of course, this is nothing new for the Golden State Warriors power forward, who has already forfeited US$2.5 million (AU$3.7 million) of his US$177.9 million (AU$265.3 million) career earnings in suspensions and fines.
Green is currently serving an “indefinite” suspension after he swung at the face of Phoenix Suns centre Jusuf Nurkić while competing for offensive possession on an inbounds pass during the third quarter. His long history of this sort of behaviour factored heavily into the NBA’s decision.
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NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations — and, rather ironically, former “Bad Boy” Piston — Joe Dumars explained:
“First of all, we knew there would be some level of punishment, but we didn’t want that to be the focus. We wanted the focus to be on how can we help Draymond as well. We thought indefinite was the best way to do that.”
“So people don’t get caught up on the number. ‘Oh, is it too low, is it too high?’ Indefinite means, ‘Get yourself right. We want to see you at your best,’ and the best way for you to do that is to get yourself mentally and emotionally back to where you need to be. So that’s how we got to indefinite.”
Draymond Green received a five-game suspension earlier in the season for choking Minnesota Timberwolves centre Rudy Gobert in the middle of a game. This will presumably be significantly larger than that. Initially, the NBA Players Association reportedly intended to fight back against the league’s indefinite suspension, but the man himself ultimately agreed to the penalty.
ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski recently suggested there’s a chance Green could return to the Warriors by January 1st, 2024. If that really is the case, he’d only miss a total of nine games and would be on track to play by January 22nd, 2024, against the Orlando Magic at Chase Centre.
If Draymond Green is suspended for fewer than 20 games, the financial penalty is estimated to be US$153,941 (AU$229,000) per game. Greater than 20 games, however, would mean forfeiting a whopping US$202,922 (AU$302,000) per game.
The competitive edge Draymond Green presents has always simultaneously been one of the Warriors’ biggest strengths and weaknesses. Across 11 seasons with the team, his tenacity has proven instrumental to their four NBA titles and rightly cemented him as both a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of the greatest modern defenders.
This is a six-foot-six centre tasked with battling against some of the largest and strongest guys on the planet. The Warriors’ motion offence and space-and-pace style of play are widely believed to have changed the way basketball is played at the NBA level… But you don’t get that with a huge lumbering centre who struggles to run up the court.
Stephen Curry would’ve been a star wherever he was drafted. Green, on the other hand, is the man who brought the passing and the defensive ferocity that made Steph the face of a dynasty. As much as the team has been hamstrung by his on-court activity at times, there’s no denying that they needed him to reach the heights they did.
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While Draymond Green’s recent suspensions and fines have been attributed to his “history” of these violent antics throughout his career, that isn’t to suggest that they are purely reputational. If anything, Green’s reputation helps him as much as it hinders him. The NBA referees almost expect to get yelled at by the other #23 every game at this point, so it isn’t as surprising (or punished as harshly) as if someone like Jayson Tatum randomly got aggressive.
It’s when he especially crosses the line — like straight-up punching someone in the face — that it’s a bit harder to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Draymond Green Career Fines & Suspensions Breakdown
With all of the above in mind, let’s take a look at the US$2.5 million (AU$3.7 million) Draymond Green has lost across his 11 years in the NBA. This figure doesn’t even include the fine that he was required to pay for punching then-teammate Jordan Poole at a Golden State Warriors practice before last season, which was an undisclosed amount.
Date | Category | Games Suspended | Forfeited (USD) | Reason |
---|---|---|---|---|
13/12/2023 | Striking/Kicking/Kneeing | Two games | $307,882 | For striking Jusuf Kurkic in the face during GSW-PHX game (suspended indefinitely, games TBD) |
12/12/2023 | Ejection | $6,000 | For ejection from GSW-PHX game | |
28/11/2023 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-SAC game | |
15/11/2023 | Fighting | Five games | $769,704 | For escalating on-court altercation during MIN-GSW game |
14/11/2023 | Ejection | $4,000 | For ejection from MIN-GSW game | |
11/11/2023 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during CLE-GSW game | |
11/11/2023 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during CLE-GSW game | |
11/11/2023 | Ejection | $2,000 | For ejection (two technical fouls) during CLE-GSW game | |
30/10/2023 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-NOP game | |
12/05/2023 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAL game (playoff) | |
06/05/2023 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAL game (playoff) | |
02/05/2023 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during LAL-GSW game (playoff) | |
23/04/2023 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during SAC-GSW game (playoff) | |
18/04/2023 | Unsportsmanlike Conduct | One game | $177,976 | For stepping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis during GSW-SAC game |
17/04/2023 | Ejection | $2,000 | For ejection from GSW-SAC game (playoff) | |
28/03/2023 | Technical Foul | $5,000 | For technical foul during NOP-GSW game | |
16/03/2023 | Technical Foul | One game | $177,976 | For 16th Technical foul during GSW-LAC game |
15/03/2023 | Technical Foul | $5,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAC game | |
13/02/2023 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during WAS-GSW game | |
25/01/2023 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during MEM-GSW game | |
15/01/2023 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-CHI game | |
04/01/2023 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during DET-GSW game | |
04/01/2023 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during DET-GSW game | |
04/01/2023 | Ejection | $4,000 | For ejection (two technical fouls) from DET-GSW game | |
25/12/2022 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during MEM-GSW game | |
14/12/2022 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-IND game | |
14/12/2022 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-IND game | |
14/12/2022 | Ejection | $2,000 | For ejection (two technical fouls) from GSW-IND game | |
01/12/2022 | Inappropriate Language | $25,000 | For directing obscene language toward fan during GSW-DAL game | |
27/11/2022 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-MIN game | |
16/11/2022 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-PHX game | |
11/11/2022 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during CLE-GSW game | |
03/11/2022 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-ORL game | |
01/11/2022 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-MIA game | |
30/10/2022 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-DET game | |
25/10/2022 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-PHX game | |
12/10/2022 | Striking/Kicking/Kneeing | Unknown | For practice altercation with Jordan Poole | |
05/06/2022 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during BOS-GSW game (playoff) | |
23/05/2022 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-DAL game (playoff) | |
20/05/2022 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during DAL-GSW game (playoff) | |
05/05/2022 | Obscene Gesture | $25,000 | For middle finger gesture to fans during GSW-MEM game (playoff) | |
01/05/2022 | Ejection | $2,000 | For ejection during GSW-MEM game (playoff) | |
24/04/2022 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-DEN game (playoff) | |
03/04/2022 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-SAC game | |
30/03/2022 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during PHX-GSW game | |
27/03/2022 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-WAS game | |
22/03/2022 | Verbal or other Non-Physical Offense Against Official | $25,000 | For cursing at official during SAS-GSW game | |
20/03/2022 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during SAS-GSW game | |
20/03/2022 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during SAS-GSW game | |
20/03/2022 | Ejection | $2,000 | For ejection (two technical fouls) during SAS-GSW game | |
16/03/2022 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during BOS-GSW game | |
05/01/2022 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-DAL game | |
25/12/2021 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-PHX game | |
23/12/2021 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during MEM-GSW game | |
13/12/2021 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-IND game | |
08/12/2021 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during POR-GSW game | |
28/11/2021 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAC game | |
14/11/2021 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-CHA game | |
03/11/2021 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during CHA-GSW game | |
19/05/2021 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAL game (play-in) | |
08/05/2021 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during OKC-GSW game | |
25/04/2021 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during SAC-GSW game | |
23/03/2021 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during PHI-GSW game | |
20/03/2021 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-MEM game | |
28/02/2021 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAL game | |
20/02/2021 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-CHA game | |
02/20/2021 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-CHA game | |
20/02/2021 | Ejection | $4,000 | For ejection (Two technical fouls) from GSW-CHA game | |
28/01/2021 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-PHX game | |
25/01/2021 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during MIN-GSW game | |
21/01/2021 | Taunting | $2,000 | For technical foul during NYK-GSW game | |
21/01/2021 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For ejection from NYK-GSW game | |
18/01/2021 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAL game | |
03/01/2021 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during POR-GSW game | |
09/08/2020 | Conduct detrimental to the league | $50,000 | For violating Anti-Tampering Rule when commenting about Devin Booker (PHX) | |
27/08/2020 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during LAL-GSW game | |
27/02/2020 | Ejection | $6,000 | For ejection (two technical fouls) during LAL-GSW game | |
27/02/2020 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during LAL-GSW game | |
22/01/2020 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during UTH-GSW game | |
16/01/2020 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during DEN-GSW game | |
10/01/2020 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAC game | |
04/01/2020 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during DET-GSW game | |
04/01/2020 | Ejection | $4,000 | For ejection (two technical fouls) from DET-GSW game | |
04/01/2020 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during DET-GSW game | |
28/12/2019 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during DAL-GSW game | |
20/12/2019 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during NOP-GSW game | |
27/11/2019 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during CHI-GSW game | |
17/11/2019 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-NOP game | |
11/11/2019 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during UTH-GSW game | |
11/11/2019 | Ejection | $2,000 | For ejection (two technical fouls) from UTH-GSW game | |
11/11/2019 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during UTH-GSW game | |
30/10/2019 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during PHX-GSW game | |
10/06/2019 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-TOR game (playoff) | |
07/06/2019 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during TOR-GSW game (playoff) | |
08/05/2019 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during HOU-GSW game (playoff) | |
28/04/2019 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during HOU-GSW game (playoff) | |
26/04/2019 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAC game (playoff) | |
24/04/2019 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAC game (playoff) | |
02/04/2019 | Criticism of Officials | $35,000 | For making statements on social media which impugned the integrity of NBA officiating following GSW-MIN game | |
29/03/2019 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-MIN game | |
27/03/2019 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-MEM game | |
21/02/2019 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during SAC-GSW game | |
13/02/2019 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-POR game | |
10/02/2019 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during MIA-GSW game | |
08/02/2019 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-PHX game | |
08/02/2019 | Ejection | $2,000 | For ejection (two technical fouls) from GSW-PHX game | |
08/02/2019 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-PHX game | |
31/01/2019 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during PHI-GSW game | |
18/01/2019 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAC game | |
15/01/2019 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-DEN game | |
29/12/2018 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-POR game | |
27/12/2018 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during POR-GSW game | |
23/12/2018 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during LAC-GSW game | |
12/12/2018 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during TOR-GSW game | |
13/11/2018 | Conduct detrimental to the team | One game | $120,480 | By Golden State (GSW) for conduct detrimental to the team |
19/10/2018 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-UTH game | |
06/06/2018 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-CLE game (playoff) | |
31/05/2018 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during CLE-GSW game (playoff) | |
20/05/2018 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during HOU-GSW game (playoff) | |
14/05/2018 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-HOU game (playoff) | |
06/05/2018 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-NOP game (playoff) | |
09/03/2018 | Technical Foul | $5,000 | For technical foul during GSW-POR game | |
08/02/2018 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during DAL-GSW game | |
08/02/2018 | Criticism of Referees | $50,000 | For “directing inappropriate and offensive language toward a game official” after OKC-GSW game | |
06/02/2018 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during OKC-GSW game | |
06/02/2018 | Ejection | $6,000 | For ejection (two technical fouls) from OKC-GSW game | |
06/02/2018 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during OKC-GSW game | |
08/01/2018 | Criticism of Referees | $25,000 | For criticizing the officiating during GSW-LAC game | |
06/01/2018 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAC game | |
30/12/2017 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during MEM-GSW game | |
30/12/2017 | Ejection | $4,000 | For ejection (two technical fouls) from MEM-GSW game | |
30/12/2017 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during MEM-GSW game | |
25/12/2017 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during CLE-GSW game | |
04/12/2017 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-NOP game | |
22/11/2017 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-OKC game | |
19/11/2017 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-BKN game | |
18/11/2017 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-PHI game | |
29/10/2017 | Fighting | $25,000 | For altercation with Bradley Beal during WAS-GSW game | |
27/10/2017 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during WAS-GSW game | |
27/10/2017 | Ejection | $2,000 | For ejection (two technical fouls) from WAS-GSW game | |
27/10/2017 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during WAS-GSW game | |
20/10/2017 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-NOP game | |
09/06/2017 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-CLE game (playoff) | |
07/06/2017 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-CLE game (playoff) | |
14/05/2017 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during SAS-GSW game (playoff) | |
06/05/2017 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-UTH game (playoff) | |
10/04/2017 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during UTH-GSW game | |
20/03/2017 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-OKC game | |
10/03/2017 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-MIN game | |
23/02/2017 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during LAC-GSW game | |
15/02/2017 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during SAC-GSW game | |
15/02/2017 | Ejection | $2,000 | For ejection (two technical fouls) from SAC-GSW game | |
15/02/2017 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during SAC-GSW game | |
16/01/2017 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during CLE-GSW game | |
25/12/2016 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-CLE game | |
20/12/2016 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during UTH-GSW game | |
10/12/2016 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-MEM game | |
01/12/2016 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during HOU-GSW game | |
03/11/2016 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during OKC-GSW game | |
25/10/2016 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during SAS-GSW game | |
12/06/2016 | Flagrant Foul | One game | $129,644 | For being assessed a Flagrant 1 Foul during GSW-CLE game (playoff) |
26/05/2016 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during OKC-GSW game (playoff) | |
22/05/2016 | Flagrant Foul | $25,000 | For Flagrant 2 during GSW-OKC game (playoff) | |
11/05/2016 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during POR-GSW game (playoff) | |
09/05/2016 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-POR game (playoff) | |
27/04/2016 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during HOU-GSW game (playoff) | |
16/04/2016 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during HOU-GSW game (playoff) | |
10/04/2016 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-SAS game | |
07/04/2016 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during SAS-GSW game | |
20/02/2016 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAC game | |
19/02/2016 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-POR game | |
20/01/2016 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-CHI game | |
16/01/2016 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-DET game | |
09/01/2016 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-SAC game | |
02/01/2016 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during DEN-GSW game | |
28/12/2015 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during SAC-GSW game | |
12/12/2015 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-MIL game | |
08/12/2015 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-IND game | |
11/11/2015 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-MEM game | |
04/11/2015 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during LAC-GSW game | |
27/10/2015 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during NOP-GSW game | |
07/06/2015 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during CLE-GSW game (playoff) | |
23/05/2015 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-HOU game (playoff) | |
05/05/2015 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during MEM-GSW game | |
26/02/2015 | Technical Foul | $4,000 | For technical foul during GSW-CLE game | |
24/02/2015 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-WAS game | |
06/02/2015 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-ATL game | |
03/02/2015 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-SAC game | |
31/01/2015 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during PHX-GSW game | |
14/01/2015 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during MIA-GSW game | |
07/01/2015 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during IND-GSW game | |
16/12/2014 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-MEM game | |
14/12/2014 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-NOP game | |
23/11/2014 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-OKC game | |
11/11/2014 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during SAS-GSW game | |
14/04/2014 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during MIN-GSW game | |
24/02/2014 | Technical Foul | $3,000 | For technical foul during GSW-DET game | |
15/01/2014 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during DEN-GSW game | |
26/12/2013 | Ejection | $15,000 | For failing to leave the court in a timely manner following ejection from GSW-LAC game | |
25/12/2013 | Ejection | $2,000 | For ejection from GSW-LAC game | |
13/12/2013 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during HOU-GSW game | |
25/11/2013 | Unnecessarily Entering Fight Area (active involvement) | $20,000 | For “escalating the incident” between Andrew Bogut and Joel Freeland during POR-GSW game | |
23/11/2013 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during POR-GSW game | |
23/11/2013 | Ejection | $2,000 | For ejection (fighting) from POR-GSW game | |
09/11/2013 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-MEM game | |
31/10/2013 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAC game | |
14/11/2012 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during ATL-GSW game | |
09/11/2012 | Technical Foul | $2,000 | For technical foul during GSW-LAL game | |
11 games | $2,547,662 |