Draymond Green considered retirement around the time he was suspended last month, but NBA commissioner Adam Silver convinced him to keep playing, relays ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Warriors star explained the situation on the latest edition of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.”
“I told him, ‘Adam this is too much for me. … This is too much,” Green said. “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.’
“We had a long, great conversation — very helpful to me. Very thankful to play in a league with a commissioner like Adam who’s more about helping you than hurting you; helping you than punishing you. He’s more about the players.”
The podcast marks Green’s first public comments since Silver handed down an indefinite suspension on December 14 after Green was thrown out of a game for striking Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkic in the face. It was the second suspension of the season for Green, who was also docked five games for putting Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert in a choke hold in November.
Green’s latest suspension was lifted on Saturday, but he still hasn’t returned to action. He’s currently working on his conditioning and could be back on the court by the end of the week.
During his time away from the game, Green underwent counseling with representatives from the league office, the team and the players association, as well as his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. Green was reported to be “open and engaged” during the counseling sessions, which are expected to continue for the rest of the season.
The Warriors have publicly expressed support for Green throughout the process, but coach Steve Kerr said after the incident with Nurkic that Green “has to change and he knows that.”
hilarious
This is actually bad news for Warriors and raises even more red flags. On the surface, Draymind is just being prima donna with this statement but it also shows that he doesnt really want to play and he’s unstable. He can easily pull Kyrie or Wiggins and take paid leave of absence going forward. :(
Michol, you’re kidding right? Draymond Green would NEVER pull a Kyrie or a wiggins. He cares about his team and his teammates and winning.
He goes about that in ways that are not acceptable many times but there’s no way he’s sitting out voluntarily to work on himself.
No.., he’s a grinder and puts his body on the line every night playing Center at 6-6. He’s a pick setter, an excellent Defender, and a team Enforcer much in the same way hockey thugs play the role.
We’ve seen now that the league and its fans have seen enough and Draymond has to change his ways. My fingers are crossed that happens.
How many games has he played this yr?? Lets not give him a pass. He knew what he was doing against Nurcic – another suspension.
With Draymond, it’s not just about style of play. There are other issues off the court. He probably is still upset with the Punch video leak and he has issues with several players on the team.
If Warriors are not able to contend, he might not want to play but still get paid.
Regardless, let him play well, get his value up and time to turn the page.
Draymond has missed games because of his Foul Play So to speak. I thought you said above that he should be like Kyrie and Wiggins and sit out for personal reasons like he doesn’t want to play home games for the vaccine thing and Wiggins family stuff.., so he’ll sit out.
Sorry if I did not understand what you were saying above.
“Foul play so to speak”… warriors fans are the worst in the league lmao
I just used “foul play” as a figure of speech. That’s why I added “so to speak.” We all saw what he did. I’ve been a little more critical of him than most Warrior fans I think. I probably still engage in a little homerism though. Trying hard not to.
Where do you get this idea that Draymond is a prima donna? You have no idea what is going on with him. So, you don’t know what his motivation is for saying that. He is definitely not a Jordan Poole. That’s a prima donna.
Omg, Giants74. Please get off your horses on Poole. I dont get it. What is your problem with him? Why are you obsessed with him? He did a lot of good for the team and Warriors only paid him $10m for his 4 yr service. And he brought W’s CP3.
On the other hand, your favorite Wiseman cost the W’s $40M in salary over 4 yrs and wasted overall #2 pick on him. He didnt contribute anything in 4 yrs except for Myers leaving. :)
Oh silly boy. You called Draymond a prima donna. I was just pointing out what a real one looks like. Poole’s play in DC is both sad, and hysterical.
Everyone knew it would take Wiseman 3 or 4 seasons to develop, especially after not having any college, when he was drafted. He was traded because 2nd unit sucked last year. They were trying to repeat. He is now getting the minutes in Detroit, and is developing. He definitely great attitude.
His whole situation is kinda funny. People called the Warriors soft when they started their run. They wouldn’t make it in the 80s. Draymond plays like the 80s, and everyone is in a tizzy.
Warriors drafted Wiseman because they thought he would be dominating by year 3. You dont waste #2 overall pick and wait for a decade to develop. Trayce Davis is already regarded higher. Warriors traded Wiseman away because he was hopeless and to save luxury tax.
BTW why do you care how Poole plays in Washington? That doesnt take away Poole helped Warriors win a title 2 yrs ago, and how he was well respected by FO, Kerr, and most players to be rewarded $128M.
Warriors’ fans infatuation with Jordan Poole is hilarious. You know who else’s play has been “sad and hysterical” this season? The vast majority of Golden State’s roster.
Yeah I am sure Adam cares deeply about Draymond and wasn’t just concerned about the economic ramifications of losing one of the most popular players on one of the most popular teams.
Not sure what you’re inferring here, but the NBA will be just fine with it without Draymond
with *or without
The NBA manufactured Draymond into its WWE style heel. The NBA viewership numbers have been steadily declining, yet the warriors still sell out opposing arenas because kids want to see curry and Draymond and to a lesser extend Thompson. The NBA loves to hate draymond, and the sheeple fans still watching go right along with the crafted narrative. Draymond was never contemplating retirement. No way he leaves 75m on the table.
Kids want to see Curry hit 28 foot three pointers, they don’t want to see Draymond flop and set up moving screens. I bet you more kids want to see Thompson than Green
Kids might tune in to watch Dray lose his **it and take bets on what he does next like stomp on Sabonis. Draymond is the poor man’s Dennis Rodman, Rodman has many fans still to this day. Dray’s next move is probably kicking the Courtside cameraman in the nuts just like Rodman.
Yeah bud you are aware that the NBA doesn’t really control the narratives around their sport? Unless you are only watching NBA TV, the talking heads that feed you your information aren’t paid by the NBA
That’s like saying a company would be just fine without one of its products. Sure, but that doesn’t matter. The goal is always to make even more money. Keeping Draymond in the NBA helps the NBA make even more money.
Dude nobody is tuning in to games to watch DRAYMOND GREEN play basketball. I’d argue if you’re that excited to see Green you’re equally excited to see him punch someone( something the NBA does not want)
They would be fine without him, but him retiring could generate a snow ball effect. Next Morant retires. Then another start retires. Next thing you know NBA becomes the next PGA
Hope not because look how the Saudis took over the PGA by buying all the greedy golfers that don’t care they are owned by foreigners.
He should try MMA next. Hardy vs Green in his 1st match.
This whole saga is disgusting, frankly.
See everyone that continues to hate on Draymond you never no what players are going through physical and mentally glad Dray didn’t listen to his haters and retire he would have been miss.
Draymond has been playing with total reckless abandon and is out there hurting people (or trying to) but yeah sure, he’s the victim. I’m glad he got some counseling but his behavior is his responsibility.
Not these days, bad behavior is always someone else’s fault.
He hasn’t hurt anyone not his fault everyone just flops cause of there hate for Draymond/Warriors. He doesn’t need counseling league is just doing way too much. He’s perfectly fine.
You’re actually defending him and saying that Nurkic flopped? Gobert flopped? You think what he did is the behavior of someone who is “perfectly fine?” Sounds like someone has a bad moral compass.
Nurck definitely flopped
“He hasn’t hurt anyone not his fault”
For some reason, I don’t think Steven Adams’s balls agree with this statement.
Fans are delusional. So Gobert just flopped his way into an extended headlock and Nurkic was able to jump inside Draymond’s head to know the exact moment he was going to wildly swing his arm back at his head so he could flop because of his deep seated hate of him???
Green needs to take responsibility for his actions. He should have let go of Golbert immediately. Nurkic is a flopper. What some peopel do not see is many of Green’s altercations is him being the protector of the warrior players. Like how Sobanis grabbed and pulled down Thompson which could have messed up his knee again right before the stomp.
He flopped by falling to the floor after green hit him. He acted like a baby err I mean typical NBA player and laid on the floor like his life was over. Just like Sabonis
Sometimes, the shade is justified. Like when you’re as belligerent as Green is.
Him couching it in having some mental health dilemma is disingenuous and disrespectful for people with mental illnesses, the majority of whom are not as violent as Green is.
players already have friends, families, agents, coaches, GMs and the players’ association whose job it is to help them – the Commissioner’s job is to lay down the hammer and protect the integrity of the game. He should have told him if he wants to retire don’t let the door hit him in the backside.
Oh, absolutely. If what Draymond says is true, then it REALLY sucks that you have a guy in a position of power who might also have some human compassion…
/s
pretty sure from observing his many fine qualities that he would never lie
“Look Draymond, the NBA needs lunatic thugs like you just as it can’t do without crooked refereeing, rigged games and fixed drafts! You see buddy, this isn’t real sports but profitable entertainment for the gullible sheep out there. Think WWE! C’mon pal, stay and the next violence-related salary reduction will be on the house!”
“Thanks Adam, you’ve always been a true friend!”
Lolz, “the situations that I continue to solely cause are too much for me”
He caused Gobert to choke Klay? He caused Sabonis to grab his leg? He caused Nuric to act like his world was ending after lite contact??
Gobert choked Klay? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Delusional
Gobert put his hands on klay unnecessarily watch it
This is like when a child gets in trouble and says they are going to their room and never leaving again.
he’s not a POS. he’s a full sack.
Or child that says theyre gonna run away from home and never come back
Silver would you please retire instead. The NBA needs silver gone.
All you have to do to get a tech on dray is flop. You can even do it after games just ask lebron.. oh and Sabonis last year should have been the one ejected and suspended
All this counseling-contrition show (not only Green, but also Kyrie, Meyers Leonard, Ja and others) is almost embarrassing. Just suspend the offender for whatever number of games and let him sit them. Anything beyond that is just playing to the gallery.
Funny. When the Warriors started their run, everybody complained that they were to soft. They wouldn’t have made back in the 80s. Now, everybody looks at Draymond as some sort of Inner-city Ghetto Street Thug. I guess the NBA has gone all politically correct.
For the record, Draymond is playing in an era when they call physical play harsher. Despite that, he is not the most suspended player, or called for the most technical fouls, in NBA history. But, he joins a list of respected Hall of Famers.
Cali hoops TV is collapsing. The players are aged. The teams are middling at best and are now getting soundly beat by teams they should not be losing to so soundly.
Adam has to keep all the tv/internet draw names around until the new TV contract is signed this summer.
Huh? The Warriors are doing extremely well with their TV contract. They probably have the biggest market of any team in the NBA.
Worst commissioner ever.
If I was Warriors management I would be thinking “Damn, we could have gotten out of that contract…”
If they didn’t want that contract they wouldn’t have signed it merely months ago.
Have you been under a rock the last 10 years? Everyone on the face of the planet has seen Draymond Green Act this way in varying degrees. Where Have You been?
I bet you they regret that contract now
Again, for those who are slow, EVERYONE on the face of the planet knows Draymond Green does stupid stuff on the basketball floor.
He signed his contract this summer and the stupid stuff happened this season. Are you saying you did not know Draymond Green did stupid stuff on the basketball floor BEFORE THIS SUMMER?
Are you saying that the Golden State Warriors did not know Draymond Green did stupid stuff on the floor BEFORE THIS SUMMER?
Again, I think everyone on the face of the planet saw Draymond Green do stupid stuff the last 10 years.
The Warriors do NOT regret this contract. He’s not a recent trade acquisition and they’re trying to figure out his personality. They know exactly who he is and they’ve known for a long time.
I don’t think your assessment of the situation is correct.
Lol what a baby
Maybe but he has to show some kind of registered remorse for him to be approved to come back. And you know what I know I’m on an island with this, but I believe a man can change his ways once HE DECIDES to do so. Is this the time that Draymond decides to change? I’m hopeful.
Me too Gary , love drays game , the league is better with him on the court
I hear you and it was fine for a while but now it’s sort of getting old.
I was on the fence actually about re-signing Draymond as a free agent. Yes his game is fantastic but the kicking and the stuff this year shouldn’t happen.
Sorry to say that but he needs to change that stuff and change it right now. Cold turkey, new man, improved Behavior or he’s done for the year. I mean that.
He’s valuable but as I said above the league is tired of it and so are the fans.
How long before Warriors realize the time has come for this group to be broken up
Can’t remember where I said it.., on this article or the one right next to it in the feed, but I think this trading deadline something needs to happen.
It’s not working right now, the Warriors are a .500 team and going nowhere fast.
Trade Wiggins or Thompson or Chris Paul or even Jonathan kaminga and Moses moody. They can’t stand Pat and make a minor tweak.
Never ever left a comment before BUT as a Warriors Fan since 1975
Draymond – Please get the F out !!!!
I have always said would hate you as an opponent but love you as a teammate. Now You are just a Disgrace
Welcome Silverbullet. You should leave more comments, it’s fun. I would love to see and read what you think about the team from time to time.
But yeah I think everybody is feeling the same way. Love him as a warrior, would hate him as an opponent, but it’s time that he becomes a man and knocks off the bs.
Either that or he’s got to go. Pennies on the dollar if that’s what it takes but it’s getting old.
This needs the triple facepalm gif…
I agree. You’re on every single Warriors article disparaging the team and its players. A triple face palm gif is absolutely necessary here.
But I’ll give you a thumbs up because it’s the only option available. So that plus the one you give yourself will give you 2 thumbs up. Close to a triple face palm but not quite.
By the way whatever happened to the thumbs down? It was a great time saver on YouTube videos also. 648 thumbs down and I’m not watching some stupid clickbait.
Cryyyyyyyy
A 33 years old needed a time out so he’d play nice with the other kids?
If his behavior was just consistently random that’s one thing but the only thing consistent about it is he doesn’t do it everyone.
Rehab won’t make a difference and that’s not a spoiler just logic