Draymond Green Apologizes For Punching Jusuf Nurkic: “I Was Trying To Sell A Call”

Draymond Green has said he didn't intend to punch Jusuf Nurkic in the Warriors' loss to the Suns, apologizing to the center.

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Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Draymond Green faced the media after getting ejected for punching Jusuf Nurkic during the Warriors 116-119 loss to the Suns. Green has claimed he didn’t intend to hit Nurkic and accidentally punched him while trying to sell a call.

“He was pulling my hip and I was swinging away to sell the call and made contact with him. I’m not one to apologize for things I meant to do but I will apologize to Jusuf because I didn’t intend to hit him. I sell calls with my arms… I’m not a flopper. I was just selling the call because he was grabbing me and pulling my hip back.”

Green chose the worst moment to sell a call, as he clocked Nurkic straight in the face. The Bosnian center made his feelings clear after the game, expressing his concern for Green’s mental health before Green clarified why he ended up punching Nurkic.

“What’s going on with him? I don’t know. Personally, I feel like that brother needs help. I’m glad he didn’t try to choke me. At the same time, it ain’t nothing to do with basketball.”

Nurkic’s comments about Green not trying to choke him was a clear reference to Green’s suspension earlier in the season for locking Rudy Gobert in a headlock. The fact that the incident took place about a month ago and Green has already put himself in another situation that may bring a suspension is extremely worrying for the 10-13 Warriors.


The Warriors Can’t Afford To Lose Games For No Reason

The Warriors are digging themselves into a hole this season. They’re 10-13 after the first quarter of the season and currently sit as the 11th seed. They need to be top 10 to make the playoffs and are currently 2.5 games behind the New Orleans Pelicans, who are fresh off a win over the league-leading Timberwolves. The situations both teams find themselves in are extremely different, so the Warriors need to be able to push up the standings.

This isn’t the first time Green has gotten himself ejected over a foul that could lead to a suspension and explained it away by saying he was trying to sell a call. This is the exact situation he found himself in during the 2016 Western Conference Finals when he ended up kicking Steven Adams in the groin. Green explained that foul away by claiming he was trying to sell a call as well, comparing it to a different incident.

“I sold the call.”

Draymond Green On Why His Kick Wasn't Same As Dahntay Jones' Punch

Green avoided a suspension for that incident but would miss a pivotal Game 5 in the 2016 NBA Finals after being suspended for one game for pulling the same move on LeBron James. Green’s antics have caused the Warriors a lot of pain over the years, but they were good enough to tolerate that for his All-Defense caliber play anchoring the Warriors’ defense.

He’s no longer playing at that level and the Warriors are suffering as a result. While Jonathan Kuminga is a worthy successor in the making, Golden State may need to start relying on the 21-year-old more often in the short term, especially if Green is suspended once again. For a player who signed a four-year extension this summer, the Warriors will be concerned.   

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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