Draymond Green’s Latest Foul: Harmless or the NBA’s Breaking Point?

A Harmless Foul? Or the Start of Something Bigger?

Late Friday night, the Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green committed what initially appeared to be a routine transition take foul. As Grizzlies rookie Zach Edey stumbled over Green’s body as he attempted to start a fast break, it appeared the play would go unnoticed, only drawing a common foul. However, after Edey and coach Taylor Jenkins complained that “[i]t wasn’t a basketball play” and expressed disappointment that the call was not reviewed, the NBA upgraded Green’s foul to a “Flagrant 1” penalty. As the replay showed, Green had hooked Edey's leg and stopped his forward momentum, causing the Grizzlies center to faceplant on the court. 

So why does this seemingly innocuous incident – one that would be unlikely to make headlines for any other player –  potentially spell trouble for Green, the Warriors, and the NBA at large? I break it down below:

Green’s Lengthy Misconduct History

Green has a well-documented history of questionable on-court infractions. In 2016, Green kicked then-Thunder center Steven Adams in the groin, earning a Flagrant 1 foul and a $25,000 fine. In Game 4 of the NBA Finals that same year, Green was given another Flagrant 1 for an altercation he had with LeBron James (which ultimately resulted in his Game 5 suspension). He followed these potentially dangerous fouls with a 2018 on-court altercation with Bradley Beal (in which his jersey was ripped and he was fined $25,000) and a heated argument with his then-teammate, Kevin Durant (which resulted in the Warriors suspending Green one game for “conduct detrimental to the team” and ultimately contributed to Durant’s departure from Golden State). Things got worse in 2022, when Green fought another former teammate, Jordan Poole, and was fined yet again. He also had to serve a 1-game suspension for exceeding the season-long technical foul limit (part of the 185 technical fouls, 34 disqualifications, 22 ejections, 21 flagrant fouls, and 6 suspensions, resulting in over $900,000 in fines and $3.2 million in lost salary throughout his career). 

In 2023, things reached a new level. Green was suspended one game for stomping on Domantas Sabonis’ chest during the 2022–23 playoffs. Then, during the 2023 regular season, Green was suspended 5 games after inserting himself into an altercation between then-teammate Klay Thompson and the Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels, in which he put Rudy Gobert into a headlock. After serving the suspension, Green swung and hit Suns’ center Jusuf Nurkic in the head just a few games later, leading to his ejection from the contest. This resulted in Green’s most serious punishment to date, an indefinite suspension until he was able to complete counseling treatment. The NBA attributed the indefinite nature of this punishment to Green’s lengthy history of conduct detrimental to the league. Green ultimately missed 12 games before returning to play and has not been punished by the league since, though this latest incident shows that his previous suspensions have not curtailed future misconduct. This latest entanglement with Edey has left fans across the league concerned and wondering when (not if) Green will make another questionable play.

Incoming Punishment? 

So, is another suspension coming for Green? The league CBA outlines a variety of minimum suspensions for various acts, including throwing a punch on-court (1 game minimum), missing a session of the mandatory rookie transition program (5), or being convicted of a violent felony (10). However, it should be noted that the NBA has less defined standards for other punishments, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, which are handled on a case-by-case basis. Thus, many suspension cases like Green’s are decided without strong precedent. Despite potential ambiguities where punishments are not clearly defined, the league has a strong stance against repeat offenders. This can be seen in the case of Ja Morant (who was suspended 17 additional games – 25 total – for his second incident of brandishing a firearm) and the NBA PED policy (which provides for a 25-game suspension for the first offense and 55 games for the second offense). Given Green's lengthy history of similar misconduct and his indefinite punishment in 2023, the league will have to act swiftly against future acts of violence by the Warriors star, especially after this latest incident. The NBA is in an impossible place with Green – do they continually punish one of their most polarizing stars, or do they turn a blind eye to his conduct? 

If the league looks to continue their policy of increasing suspension lengths for repeat offenders, the maximum punishments allowed by the NBA’s anti-drug and PED programs may be illuminating. Both programs provide for league dismissal and disqualification if a player violates program terms repeatedly. Players such as Jalen Harris and Tyreke Evans received this type of punishment and were eventually reinstated into the league, while others, like OJ Mayo, never returned. Removing Green from the NBA entirely would be a strong step, but one that the league may consider, given that weaker suspensions were ineffective (and the fact that he could be later reinstated). A longer suspension would also allow Green more time to seek counseling, as he did for his previous punishment – though the league’s ability to control or require player therapy should be questioned. In addition, the Warriors star is in a particularly unique situation because he considered retirement during his most recent suspension. In acknowledgment of this, the NBA may look to tread lightly here, not wanting to risk losing the 4-time Finals champion and 2016 Defensive Player of the Year with a severe penalty. No matter what the NBA decides, it is clear that the league must balance their desire to set a clear standard against on-court misconduct with their need to keep the most entertaining players in the world on the floor. 

If the league attempts to disqualify Green, there would be additional hurdles to clear. The NBA CBA grants players the right to a meeting with the NBA’s President of League Operations or Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations in order to dispute a potential suspension or punishment. In addition, players can have the NBPA appeal a punishment by writing to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Green would almost certainly oppose dismissal from the league and would likely fight hard to keep his NBA eligibility. Despite this, not all of the league’s safeguards weigh in favor of the Warriors icon. Players cannot file a grievance or seek arbitration if their suspension is 12 games or fewer – an especially interesting note given the length of Green's last punishment. Further, while many types of league punishments can be heard via arbitration, the player discipline arbitrator may only “affirm or reduce the financial penalty associated with a fine or suspension,” meaning arbitration would not be a route for Green to reduce his suspension/dismissal. As this type of arbitration is collectively bargained for in the league CBA, the non-statutory labor exemption would also likely bar Green from challenging his suspension in court. 

Lastly, Commissioner Silver may try to take a more hands-off stance, advising the player’s team on a punishment as opposed to punishing athletes directly (as was seen in team-issued suspensions of Kyrie Irving, Green, and Ime Udoka in recent years). While some may argue that this is simply a means for the league to avoid additional scrutiny, it also allows teams to take a more direct approach to reforming suspended players (as opposed to simply accepting a league punishment). A second team-directed punishment and rehabilitation process could be especially beneficial in the case of Green (who has been with the Warriors since he joined the league in 2012), allowing him to lean on the relationships he’s built over his 13-year career as he restructures his playing tendencies and rebuilds trust within the organization. 

Could Green Emerge Unscathed?

Despite potential for a suspension, the NBA has allowed previous questionable plays from Green to go unscrutinized (even after his indefinite suspension in 2023), so there is a chance that they allow future misconduct to slide, too. Green appeared to kick the Pelicans’ Herb Jones in the back during a game towards the end of the 2023 season, which went unreviewed by the league. Thus, the league may simply attempt to ignore this latest incident (and have done so to date, allowing Green to play against the Clippers on Monday night). But should they, especially given growing sentiments around NBA punishments as a whole? 

The league has been scrutinized for a lack of transparency and consistency in recent league punishments (including those of Miles Bridges and Joshua Primo), which some have suggested is the NBA’s way to avoid setting clear precedent with their suspensions. Despite these complaints, there is no language in the league CBA that requires punishments to be predictable or fair, allowing the league broad discretion in how they sanction players. However, the NBA is in the business of entertainment, where public opinion carries great weight. A strong stance by the NBA against Green’s violent history would seemingly help to quell some of the unrest surrounding player punishments. While the NBA’s final decision on how to handle this latest misstep from Green remains to be seen, the way in which the NBA has handled him throughout his career should raise questions about how many chances a player gets before the league has finally seen enough.