Draymond Green was suspended indefinitely by the NBA for all of his unsportsmanlike actions on the court. He struck the Jusuf Nurkić of Phoenix Suns in his face on December 12. The incident occurred with just 8.23 minutes remaining during the match’s third quarter. DrayMagic seemed to be grappling for post positioning against Jusuf near the corner, swinging around and nailing him in his face with his right arm. Nurkic fell and stayed like that for a long minute. This is Green’s sixth suspension in his entire NBA career.

Considering he’s the Warriors’ backbone and a brilliant partner to Stephen Curry, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Curry had powerful emotions for Green’s on-court behavior. In a press conference, even though Curry can be seen slamming Green for his behavior, he still has support for his longtime teammate.

third ejection of the season served as the final straw, eroding whatever trust the NBA and the Warriors have left for the mercurial f

Stephen Curry wants Green to focus

It isn’t a surprise that Curry and Green have been through a lot. They’ve proved themselves time and time again. They’ve turned the Warriors’ franchise around, winning All-Star games together, championships together and so much more! Of course, Curry was asked to comment on Green’s latest chapter on suspensions and ejections. And Steph didn’t shy away from agreeing that his actions, including striking Nurkic, putting Gobert in a chokehold, or punching Jordan Poole, were all unacceptable. But, as any fan would have expected, he did stand by his teammate and his friend. He still has faith in his ability to grow and mature into a better person.

Even though he looks weary, Curry shares his confidence in Green, saying, “Everyone’s got mountains to climb and Draymond’s are his. I’m confident he can get over the hump, however long it takes!”

It truly wouldn’t have been easy for Steph to have such a conversation. After all, Green was, and probably still is, a fundamental piece in the puzzle that the Warriors seem to be this season.

In yet another conversation on Wednesday, after Warriors’ third straight loss to the Clippers (121-113) and the first, since Green’s suspension, Curry told reporters, “The conversations were about acknowledging he can’t do what he’s been doing”. At the same time, there’s been immense support from the baby-faced assassin in his friend. What he only wants is for his friend to get his focus back. He elaborated about him “getting on a path that’s going to allow him to be who he needs to be as a person, a man, a father, a husband, and basketball player, in that order”. 

So, even when veteran analysts like Stephen A. Smith and others have lost hope in Green, Curry still has faith that Dray can work on himself. He can figure out what’s wrong and get back on track. The franchise does not know how long it would take, but they do know that he can return to the game as someone who’s under control, as a player, and as a person. This is what the fans want too, because God knows the Warriors need him to be in his best form, now more than ever! Without him, there are severe implications to the franchise.

Severity comes with a lot of implications

Green’s absence from the team will be surely felt. Dubs are already in survival mode, and on top of that, NBA announced his indefinite suspension, which is apparently the strongest available measure against Green, per Adam Silver. He can now only return after “meeting certain league and team conditions”. Analysts believe it can include counseling and much more.

The severity of his punishment, thus, comes with a lot many implications for the entire franchise this season. It can affect their performances, their standing in the league, as well as their strategic development. The entire record for Warriors, with and without DrayMagic underscores his presence in their success. Of course, his absence is a critical factor in their upward trajectory.

Read More: Steve Kerr Slams Stephen Curry Criticism Amidst Draymond Green Debacle

So, what’s the big picture like? His suspension reflects a much bigger issue. Warriors struggle to maintain their usual on-court dominance. This can signal a potential turning point for the Warriors dynasty. The team is 7-8 with him on-court, and without him, they are 3-5. Their net rating reduces when he’s not playing, so even their state of play is in a dire state.

So the suspension decision comes with implications for the potential scoring outcomes, performance of the team, and their future in this season. It is posing threats and challenges to the Warriors’ future. Even when fans and analysts don’t see it, he does play a critical role in the overall success of the team, their upward trajectory, and overall development. And in the end, his absence speaks volumes about Curry’s exhaustion, without him.

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