Draymond Green's Moment of Reflection

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green recently opened up about a moment he regrets during his illustrious NBA career. In a fan Q&A segment on the Draymond Green Show, Green highlighted his 2023 flagrant foul against former Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić as a pivotal incident he now reflects on.

"I'm not one that lives with regrets. That's not really how I roll, so I don't know that that's the right word. But I think one moment that I really look back on is actually the moment with Jusuf Nurkić because I actually think that moment cost me an opportunity to win a third old medal," Green said. He acknowledged that looking back at the incident leaves him feeling disappointed, yet he maintains his philosophy of living without regrets.

A Defining Incident

The incident in question occurred during a closely contested game against the Suns on December 12, 2023. As Green and Nurkić jockeyed for position, Green spun around and struck Nurkić in the side of the head, resulting in a flagrant-2 foul. This led to Green’s ejection from the game and an indefinite suspension from the league. After missing 12 games, he was finally allowed to return to the court.

Despite his physical play contributing to his style, Green's actions on the court have had significant ramifications. While he was a member of the 2016 and 2020 United States Olympic men's basketball teams that won gold medals, he was notably not selected for the 2024 squad, which also went on to clinch the gold. Although USA Basketball did not provide a reason for his exclusion, Green appears to believe the foul on Nurkić played a role in that decision.

A Career of Highs and Lows

Known for his tenacious style of play, Green has accumulated a notable number of technical and flagrant fouls throughout his career, occasionally leading to suspensions. This pattern has occasionally cost the Warriors dearly, as evidenced by his suspension during the 2016 NBA Finals after an incident involving LeBron James, which is often highlighted as a turning point in that series.

Nevertheless, Green's aggressive gameplay has also been a cornerstone of his success. He has helped the Warriors win four NBA championships and has earned numerous accolades including being a four-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection, and a one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Even with career averages that may not stand out at first glance, his extensive list of accomplishments suggests he may one day find himself in Hall of Fame discussions.