The NBA has reinstated Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, and he is eligible to return to play, the league announced Saturday.
The NBA suspended Green indefinitely on December 13 for “punching Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face” during a game the day before.
Green had to fulfill league and team requirements before returning.
“During the period of suspension, which began on December 14 and resulted in him missing 12 games, Green took actions that demonstrate his commitment to performing to the standards expected of NBA players,” the NBA said in a statement. A press release. “He has participated in meetings with an advisor and met several times with representatives from the NBA, the Warriors and the National Basketball Players Association, and both of these meetings will continue throughout the season.”
The Warriors are 7-5 in his absence, and they are 17-18 overall and in 10th place in the Western Conference.
Green's suspension without pay cost him $1.84 million.
The Warriors play Toronto on Sunday and New Orleans on Wednesday, but it has not been decided when Green will return.
The Dec. 13 suspension came just six games after he served a five-game suspension without pay in November for “escalating an on-court altercation and forcibly grabbing Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert around the neck in an unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner.”
The indefinite suspension handed down in December was Green's fourth suspension since March, including a one-game suspension in the first round of the playoffs against Sacramento in April.
This season, Green, who signed a four-year, $100 million contract with Golden State during the offseason, is averaging 9.7 points, 5.8 assists and 5.5 rebounds and shooting 49 percent. from the field and 42.9% on 3 points.
Green is a four-time NBA champion, four-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA selection, eight-time All-Defense player and 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year.
