Draymond Green punches Jusuf Nurkic and is sent off in the Warriors game

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Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was involved in yet another mess in the NBA. In a game this Tuesday (12), between Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors, the player threw a punch at Jusuf Nurkic.

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After analyzing the move, he was expelled by the refereeing team.

It’s worth remembering that about a month ago, he was suspended for five games by the NBA after tackling Frenchman Rudy Gobert, from the Minnesota Timberwolves, in a widespread confusion between the two teams.

The length of the suspension at the time was due to Green’s history of disciplinary problems and unsportsmanlike acts throughout his NBA career.

Now, the tendency is for the league to be even stricter in this case.

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“I’m not one to apologize for the things I don’t do, but I apologize to Jusuf. I didn’t mean to hit him,” Green said after the game. “I saw some [foul] calls about my arms, but I wasn’t seeing anything about that. I swung and unfortunately hit him.”

“We need him. We need Draymond and he knows it,” said coach Steve Kerr. “We talked. He needs to find a way to maintain balance and be there for his teammates.”

Green acknowledged Kerr’s message.

“Like I said, if I was going to do that, I would feel terrible about not being there,” Green said. “But my intention was just to receive the foul. You’ve known me for a long time. If I intended to do something I wouldn’t be here apologizing. But I made contact with him, so I apologize.”

As a result, without Draymond Green at the end of Tuesday’s game, the Golden State Warriors ended up defeated by the Phoenix Suns 119-116, suffering their 13th defeat in 23 games in the NBA regular season.