The indefinite suspension given to Golden State's Draymond Green after his series of violent on-court offenses still doesn't have a specific end date. But Green's coach, Steve Kerr, provided a surprising — and somewhat alarming — update on Green's absence.
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From his X account on Tuesday, Anthony Slater of The Athletic posted a video of Kerr addressing Green's status prior to the 10th game he'd miss due to the suspension. When asked if Green is back in the Warriors' facility, Kerr said, "He has not been in the facility, at least with us."
Tonight will be the 10th game of Draymond Green’s indefinite suspension. Steve Kerr said Green still hasn’t been in the facility. They’ve had some text communication. But no next step update as of now.
“We’ve been giving him his space, he’s been giving us ours.” pic.twitter.com/NMsOfKrSMV
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 3, 2024
Kerr was then asked whether he has been in contact with Green at all, to which Kerr said, "A little bit. We text, but, you know, we've been giving him his space, he's been giving us ours."
This update from Kerr is surprising, considering that Green isn't banned from being around the Warriors while serving the suspension. In fact, Kendra Andrews of ESPN reported last month that Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. specifically said Green would still be around the team during his suspension.
Green will still be around the team during his suspension, Dunleavy says.
“The healthiest thing is for him to be around. It may not be every single day, but we’re not seeing the guy off.”
— Kendra Andrews (@kendra__andrews) December 14, 2023
So what does this surprising update tell us about Green's status?
Well, what's certain is that Kerr and everyone else involved with the Warriors have become experts in not disclosing too much to the press when discussing Green's violent antics. Kerr's comments about Green always seem to require some reading of the tea leaves, so to speak — and this instance is no different.
Which is to say that, of course, Kerr is going to downplay the fact that Green has gone rogue since the indefinite suspension was issued to him.
Then again, it's probably also true that Kerr, Dunleavy and everybody else within the Warriors organization believes that it's best for Green and his Warriors teammates to remain separate right now, so as not to cause any unnecessary distractions — even if Green doing so will obviously rouse suspicion (and interest) from the press, and will make people wonder whether Green is staying in basketball shape.
Yet, Green's conditioning also isn't the biggest concern right now. What's most important is that Green is getting the help he needs — and that when he does return, the on-court violence that has been plaguing him for a few years will be forever behind him.
