Draymond Green has already begun counseling and will likely be suspended for at least three more weeks, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic. The NBA handed down an indefinite suspension after Green hit Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkic in the face in a December 12 game. It’s Green’s second suspension of the season, and the league cited his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts” in making it indefinite.
Charania’s sources declined to reveal the nature of the counseling because of privacy concerns, but Green is continuing to work with representatives from the Warriors and the NBA while he’s suspended. Charania adds that Green understands the need for treatment and is “prepared to undergo the process required to return to the team in a full capacity.”
A three-week suspension would have Green back on the court in early January and would result in him missing about 12 games, Charania notes. Golden State has a 2-1 record in the three games since the suspension was imposed.
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Stephen Curry‘s historic streak of making at least one three-pointer ended Sunday after 268 games, but his teammates contributed enough for a win over Portland, ESPN reports. Curry, who has carried Golden State’s offense for most of the season, had a rare bad shooting night, hitting just 2-of-12 from the field and going 0-of-8 from three-point range. “We can’t rely on Steph to bail us out on every single night,” coach Steve Kerr said. “It was a tough night for him. But that’s what a team is supposed to be about — everybody filling in for each other, different guys stepping up each night. That’s a great sign, because he’s carried us for long enough this year. We need to give him more help.”
- Andrew Wiggins had his best game since being moved to the bench last week, posting 25 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes, writes Michael Wagaman of NBC Sports Bay Area. Wiggins told reporters this is the first time he hasn’t been a starter since a rec league game when he was in sixth grade, and he vowed to keep working to reclaim his starting role. “It’s different, different for sure,” he said. “It’s another thing I have to deal with. Whatever happens happens. Of course I want to get back to my normal spot. But it could take time, who knows? I can’t really dwell on something that’s a decision made by somebody [else]. I just have to keep playing, keep staying aggressive, stay in the gym and just try to do the right things. Anything can happen in this league. I’m blessed to be here and if I want to get out of this little doghouse I just have to keep fighting my way out.”
- Rookie Brandin Podziemski showed why Kerr trusts him to finish games, drawing a charge with less than a second remaining to preserve Sunday’s victory, notes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Podziemski ranks fourth in the league in drawing offensive fouls, which is one of the reasons he’s starting in place of Wiggins.
Podz looks so far like a future star in the making. Just a all out energy guy on the court. Looks like a player like Reaves or Caruso.
Lol
He’s really not like Reaves at all.
Reaves is a talented scorer, dribble Drive, shooter, and offensive player, whereas Podski can be good on offense and do those things, but right now he’s doing the Dirty Work with defense, rebounding well for a guard, and drawing charges etc.
Maybe bringing mental and a little physical toughness like Caruso does is a similarity?
Podz is trying to create for Curry. Ever notice how he is always passing the ball to Curry. Podz shoots more than 40% from 3 pt line. Warriors coaches is asking him to shoot more.
Yes I think you’re right. As he gains more confidence he’ll do a little more shooting himself.
I know Kerr has confidence in him on the floor but I’m not sure Brandon has the green light yet.
“Brandin”
He’s definitely IN right now. With a little more playing time and experience he’ll be ON fire.
He could usurp CPs role and make him expendable salary for a trade. Find a team that wants CP and do a 3 team to get somebody like Bogdan from Det to replace Loon with the starters and let Podz run the bench unit.
Isn’t it kinda hard to pass judgment on a players NBA career when they have only played 20 games, and compare him to someone who has been in the league for 4 years.
Quickly letting us know you don’t watch bkb. Podz is nothing like Reaves buddy lol. Completely different players
Strange comps
Green is a hero in his own mind. Total loser.
Podz is playing really well and contributing, but it feels somewhat wrong that he has been getting more playing time/attention than Moody and Kuminga. I know this might not be a big deal to most people but both Moody and Kuminga have waited patiently for their oppprtunity for the last 3 yrs and dont feel right to be behind in the pecking order. This yr is huge because they will both be extension eligible this offseason. Finally, the current front office has some bias for Podz because he is their draft pick and more he succeeds the better they look. It’s the way nba works, but guarantee than both Kuminga and Moody are not too happy and it doesnt look good for Warriors chemistry and future.
Podski get’s playing time because he’s an additional ball handler who can get to the hole.
Moody is a good Defender and a three-point shooter and occasionally is an offensive threat off the dribble. But that’s not his strength.
Jonathan Kuminga is the power forward. He can dribble drive for baskets but he’s not a reliable ball handler at the 1 and an offense initiator like the role Podski is fulfilling currently.
“Bias towards their own draft pick?”
Michol, They’re trying to win ball games. If they slump this year and don’t do well next year, their jobs could be on the line.
Understood. But they were told all kinds of excuses the last few yr in favor of veterans. They both earned their stripes and have played well enough to play more consistently. Just sharing what’s going thru their psyche and how it will affect locker room chemistry. If it’s really about “trying to win ball games” in the short term, then there’s defnitely panic in the Warriors land.
If it was the previous GM warriors probably would have picked Cam Whitmore instead. BM always picked players with raw talent.
Kuminga is a starter with Green suspended. He’s happy. Moody isn’t a playmaker nor much of a rebounder which is why Podz earned more PT.
Everything has been downhill for Draymond and Warriors since The Punch. Draymond acted as if he has won the silly bragging rights battle once Poole was traded away, but Draymond has been completely out of control self destruction since. Unfortunately, it is one of those lose lose lose for everybody including Poole. The Punch took all the celebration and glitter away from the title 2 yrs ago. It’s way overdue but Dramond needs to go at the deadline.
I disagree. They shipped Jordan Poole out of town and that has been a positive. Are you saying the Warriors would be better this year if they had kept Jordan Poole?
Trading away Draymond Green is a possibility and if that’s the way they decide to go I would be behind it 100%.
I am upset with The Punch, and how Draymond has completely become out of control and distraction to winning basketball.
He has single handedly embarrassed the whole organization.
Green value is so far down he is not worth trading. If Green gets the counseling he needs could be a big boost for them. Poole contract is why he went away. CP3 is a goner next year. I am expecting Moody to be traded away for a future draft pick at the end of the year.
Can you really watch Draymond play again without worrying about his next fiasco?? It’s not fair to Curry, teammates, and fans. Let’s just get some assets back for Draymond when we can. I do believe he will be still coveted at the deadline.
They can’t trade him until he proves he can be an asset and not a distraction. Doesn’t matter how badly the Warriors want to move on, if that’s even the case. Until other teams see that he won’t go apes***, they have no interest in trading for him. It’s really that simple. Until he comes back and proves he can stick in the Warriors’ rotation, he’s only a distraction, not a winning talent with potential distractions. As things stand, no team will take that risk. Not unless they literally get him for free. Even players who are only on big expiring contracts and can’t offer much have more value presently. They could at least be a salary match in a better trade, one less likely to completely backfire.
Nice to see that indefinite suspension may only last maybe 12 games. I’m sure that’s plenty of time to peel back all the layers of issues that Draymond has to appropriately treat him to not go mental during a game and strike an opponent for no reason.
“An ogre, is like an onion”
Counseling/therapy is a scam. The only way you change is to look yourself in the mirror and hold yourself accountable.
I just read an article that made me violently ill…the thought of the warriors trading for Gordon Hayward…no no no no no… warriors..trade for a 4 or 5…some size please???????