‘That Brother Needs Help’: Phoenix Suns Center Jusuf Nurkic Lays Into Warriors Star Draymond Green for Slapping Him on Court

Ahmad Austin Jr.Dec 15th, 2023, 2:19 pm
 

Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic had no explanation for why Warriors forward Draymond Green slapped him during their game. Instead, he simply wished him well.

Halfway through the third quarter of Tuesday’s game between the Suns and the Warriors, Green and Nurkic were fighting for position near the Warriors’ free-throw line. As Nurkic was playing defense, Green suddenly spun around and smacked him. Nurkic dropped to the ground for an extended period of time.

After reviewing the play, the referees gave Green a flagrant foul penalty, resulting in an immediate ejection. It was Green’s third ejection of the season.

Less than a month ago, Green was ejected for putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock during an altercation. He was also handed a five-game suspension.

Referring to Green’s on-court history, Nurkic concluded he needed help.

“I don’t know, man,” Nurkic said when asked what happened. “I was behind the play. What’s going on with him? I don’t know. Personally, I feel like that brother needs help. I’m glad he did not try to choke me.

“At the same time, it had nothing to do with basketball, man. I’m just out there trying to play basketball… Hoping whatever he’s got in his life gets better.”

Green claimed he felt Nurkic grab him and tried to embellish the contact to draw a foul. He even called it “unfortunate” that Nurkic’s head happened to be in the path of his flailing arm.

The league has not announced any consequences for the incident, but ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski said Wednesday that Green will likely be suspended.

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