How Being The NBA’s Biggest Menace Has Cost Draymond Green $4 Million
— 18 December 2023

How Being The NBA’s Biggest Menace Has Cost Draymond Green $4 Million

— 18 December 2023

Despite being only a quarter of the way through this ongoing NBA season, Draymond Green has already received three ejections and two suspensions. Of course, this is nothing new for the Golden State Warriors power forward, who has already forfeited US$2.5 million (AU$3.7 million) of his US$177.9 million (AU$265.3 million) career earnings in suspensions and fines.

Green is currently serving an “indefinite” suspension after he swung at the face of Phoenix Suns centre Jusuf Nurkić while competing for offensive possession on an inbounds pass during the third quarter. His long history of this sort of behaviour factored heavily into the NBA’s decision.

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NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations — and, rather ironically, former “Bad Boy” Piston — Joe Dumars explained:

“First of all, we knew there would be some level of punishment, but we didn’t want that to be the focus. We wanted the focus to be on how can we help Draymond as well. We thought indefinite was the best way to do that.”

“So people don’t get caught up on the number. ‘Oh, is it too low, is it too high?’ Indefinite means, ‘Get yourself right. We want to see you at your best,’ and the best way for you to do that is to get yourself mentally and emotionally back to where you need to be. So that’s how we got to indefinite.”

Draymond Green received a five-game suspension earlier in the season for choking Minnesota Timberwolves centre Rudy Gobert in the middle of a game. This will presumably be significantly larger than that. Initially, the NBA Players Association reportedly intended to fight back against the league’s indefinite suspension, but the man himself ultimately agreed to the penalty.

ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski recently suggested there’s a chance Green could return to the Warriors by January 1st, 2024. If that really is the case, he’d only miss a total of nine games and would be on track to play by January 22nd, 2024, against the Orlando Magic at Chase Centre.

If Draymond Green is suspended for fewer than 20 games, the financial penalty is estimated to be US$153,941 (AU$229,000) per game. Greater than 20 games, however, would mean forfeiting a whopping US$202,922 (AU$302,000) per game.

The competitive edge Draymond Green presents has always simultaneously been one of the Warriors’ biggest strengths and weaknesses. Across 11 seasons with the team, his tenacity has proven instrumental to their four NBA titles and rightly cemented him as both a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of the greatest modern defenders.

This is a six-foot-six centre tasked with battling against some of the largest and strongest guys on the planet. The Warriors’ motion offence and space-and-pace style of play are widely believed to have changed the way basketball is played at the NBA level… But you don’t get that with a huge lumbering centre who struggles to run up the court.

Stephen Curry would’ve been a star wherever he was drafted. Green, on the other hand, is the man who brought the passing and the defensive ferocity that made Steph the face of a dynasty. As much as the team has been hamstrung by his on-court activity at times, there’s no denying that they needed him to reach the heights they did.

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While Draymond Green’s recent suspensions and fines have been attributed to his “history” of these violent antics throughout his career, that isn’t to suggest that they are purely reputational. If anything, Green’s reputation helps him as much as it hinders him. The NBA referees almost expect to get yelled at by the other #23 every game at this point, so it isn’t as surprising (or punished as harshly) as if someone like Jayson Tatum randomly got aggressive.

It’s when he especially crosses the line — like straight-up punching someone in the face — that it’s a bit harder to give him the benefit of the doubt.


Draymond Green Career Fines & Suspensions Breakdown

With all of the above in mind, let’s take a look at the US$2.5 million (AU$3.7 million) Draymond Green has lost across his 11 years in the NBA. This figure doesn’t even include the fine that he was required to pay for punching then-teammate Jordan Poole at a Golden State Warriors practice before last season, which was an undisclosed amount.

DateCategoryGames SuspendedForfeited (USD)Reason
13/12/2023Striking/Kicking/KneeingTwo games$307,882For striking Jusuf Kurkic in the face during GSW-PHX game (suspended indefinitely, games TBD)
12/12/2023Ejection$6,000For ejection from GSW-PHX game
28/11/2023Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-SAC game
15/11/2023FightingFive games$769,704For escalating on-court altercation during MIN-GSW game
14/11/2023Ejection$4,000For ejection from MIN-GSW game
11/11/2023Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during CLE-GSW game
11/11/2023Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during CLE-GSW game
11/11/2023Ejection$2,000For ejection (two technical fouls) during CLE-GSW game
30/10/2023Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-NOP game
12/05/2023Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-LAL game (playoff)
06/05/2023Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-LAL game (playoff)
02/05/2023Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during LAL-GSW game (playoff)
23/04/2023Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during SAC-GSW game (playoff)
18/04/2023Unsportsmanlike ConductOne game$177,976For stepping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis during GSW-SAC game
17/04/2023Ejection$2,000For ejection from GSW-SAC game (playoff)
28/03/2023Technical Foul$5,000For technical foul during NOP-GSW game
16/03/2023Technical FoulOne game$177,976For 16th Technical foul during GSW-LAC game
15/03/2023Technical Foul$5,000For technical foul during GSW-LAC game
13/02/2023Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during WAS-GSW game
25/01/2023Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during MEM-GSW game
15/01/2023Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-CHI game
04/01/2023Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during DET-GSW game
04/01/2023Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during DET-GSW game
04/01/2023Ejection$4,000For ejection (two technical fouls) from DET-GSW game
25/12/2022Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during MEM-GSW game
14/12/2022Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-IND game
14/12/2022Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-IND game
14/12/2022Ejection$2,000For ejection (two technical fouls) from GSW-IND game
01/12/2022Inappropriate Language$25,000For directing obscene language toward fan during GSW-DAL game
27/11/2022Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-MIN game
16/11/2022Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-PHX game
11/11/2022Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during CLE-GSW game
03/11/2022Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-ORL game
01/11/2022Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-MIA game
30/10/2022Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-DET game
25/10/2022Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-PHX game
12/10/2022Striking/Kicking/KneeingUnknownFor practice altercation with Jordan Poole
05/06/2022Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during BOS-GSW game (playoff)
23/05/2022Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-DAL game (playoff)
20/05/2022Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during DAL-GSW game (playoff)
05/05/2022Obscene Gesture$25,000For middle finger gesture to fans during GSW-MEM game (playoff)
01/05/2022Ejection$2,000For ejection during GSW-MEM game (playoff)
24/04/2022Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-DEN game (playoff)
03/04/2022Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-SAC game
30/03/2022Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during PHX-GSW game
27/03/2022Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-WAS game
22/03/2022Verbal or other Non-Physical Offense Against Official$25,000For cursing at official during SAS-GSW game
20/03/2022Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during SAS-GSW game
20/03/2022Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during SAS-GSW game
20/03/2022Ejection$2,000For ejection (two technical fouls) during SAS-GSW game
16/03/2022Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during BOS-GSW game
05/01/2022Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-DAL game
25/12/2021Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-PHX game
23/12/2021Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during MEM-GSW game
13/12/2021Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-IND game
08/12/2021Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during POR-GSW game
28/11/2021Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-LAC game
14/11/2021Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-CHA game
03/11/2021Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during CHA-GSW game
19/05/2021Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-LAL game (play-in)
08/05/2021Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during OKC-GSW game
25/04/2021Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during SAC-GSW game
23/03/2021Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during PHI-GSW game
20/03/2021Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-MEM game
28/02/2021Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-LAL game
20/02/2021Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-CHA game
02/20/2021Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-CHA game
20/02/2021Ejection$4,000For ejection (Two technical fouls) from GSW-CHA game
28/01/2021Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-PHX game
25/01/2021Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during MIN-GSW game
21/01/2021Taunting$2,000For technical foul during NYK-GSW game
21/01/2021Technical Foul$2,000For ejection from NYK-GSW game
18/01/2021Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-LAL game
03/01/2021Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during POR-GSW game
09/08/2020Conduct detrimental to the league$50,000For violating Anti-Tampering Rule when commenting about Devin Booker (PHX)
27/08/2020Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during LAL-GSW game
27/02/2020Ejection$6,000For ejection (two technical fouls) during LAL-GSW game
27/02/2020Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during LAL-GSW game
22/01/2020Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during UTH-GSW game
16/01/2020Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during DEN-GSW game
10/01/2020Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-LAC game
04/01/2020Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during DET-GSW game
04/01/2020Ejection$4,000For ejection (two technical fouls) from DET-GSW game
04/01/2020Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during DET-GSW game
28/12/2019Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during DAL-GSW game
20/12/2019Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during NOP-GSW game
27/11/2019Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during CHI-GSW game
17/11/2019Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-NOP game
11/11/2019Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during UTH-GSW game
11/11/2019Ejection$2,000For ejection (two technical fouls) from UTH-GSW game
11/11/2019Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during UTH-GSW game
30/10/2019Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during PHX-GSW game
10/06/2019Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-TOR game (playoff)
07/06/2019Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during TOR-GSW game (playoff)
08/05/2019Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during HOU-GSW game (playoff)
28/04/2019Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during HOU-GSW game (playoff)
26/04/2019Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-LAC game (playoff)
24/04/2019Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-LAC game (playoff)
02/04/2019Criticism of Officials$35,000For making statements on social media which impugned the integrity of NBA officiating following GSW-MIN game
29/03/2019Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-MIN game
27/03/2019Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-MEM game
21/02/2019Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during SAC-GSW game
13/02/2019Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-POR game
10/02/2019Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during MIA-GSW game
08/02/2019Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-PHX game
08/02/2019Ejection$2,000For ejection (two technical fouls) from GSW-PHX game
08/02/2019Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-PHX game
31/01/2019Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during PHI-GSW game
18/01/2019Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-LAC game
15/01/2019Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-DEN game
29/12/2018Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-POR game
27/12/2018Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during POR-GSW game
23/12/2018Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during LAC-GSW game
12/12/2018Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during TOR-GSW game
13/11/2018Conduct detrimental to the teamOne game$120,480By Golden State (GSW) for conduct detrimental to the team
19/10/2018Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-UTH game
06/06/2018Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-CLE game (playoff)
31/05/2018Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during CLE-GSW game (playoff)
20/05/2018Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during HOU-GSW game (playoff)
14/05/2018Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-HOU game (playoff)
06/05/2018Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-NOP game (playoff)
09/03/2018Technical Foul$5,000For technical foul during GSW-POR game
08/02/2018Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during DAL-GSW game
08/02/2018Criticism of Referees$50,000For “directing inappropriate and offensive language toward a game official” after OKC-GSW game
06/02/2018Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during OKC-GSW game
06/02/2018Ejection$6,000For ejection (two technical fouls) from OKC-GSW game
06/02/2018Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during OKC-GSW game
08/01/2018Criticism of Referees$25,000For criticizing the officiating during GSW-LAC game
06/01/2018Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-LAC game
30/12/2017Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during MEM-GSW game
30/12/2017Ejection$4,000For ejection (two technical fouls) from MEM-GSW game
30/12/2017Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during MEM-GSW game
25/12/2017Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during CLE-GSW game
04/12/2017Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-NOP game
22/11/2017Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-OKC game
19/11/2017Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-BKN game
18/11/2017Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-PHI game
29/10/2017Fighting$25,000For altercation with Bradley Beal during WAS-GSW game
27/10/2017Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during WAS-GSW game
27/10/2017Ejection$2,000For ejection (two technical fouls) from WAS-GSW game
27/10/2017Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during WAS-GSW game
20/10/2017Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-NOP game
09/06/2017Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-CLE game (playoff)
07/06/2017Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-CLE game (playoff)
14/05/2017Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during SAS-GSW game (playoff)
06/05/2017Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-UTH game (playoff)
10/04/2017Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during UTH-GSW game
20/03/2017Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-OKC game
10/03/2017Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-MIN game
23/02/2017Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during LAC-GSW game
15/02/2017Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during SAC-GSW game
15/02/2017Ejection$2,000For ejection (two technical fouls) from SAC-GSW game
15/02/2017Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during SAC-GSW game
16/01/2017Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during CLE-GSW game
25/12/2016Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-CLE game
20/12/2016Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during UTH-GSW game
10/12/2016Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-MEM game
01/12/2016Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during HOU-GSW game
03/11/2016Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during OKC-GSW game
25/10/2016Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during SAS-GSW game
12/06/2016Flagrant FoulOne game$129,644For being assessed a Flagrant 1 Foul during GSW-CLE game (playoff)
26/05/2016Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during OKC-GSW game (playoff)
22/05/2016Flagrant Foul$25,000For Flagrant 2 during GSW-OKC game (playoff)
11/05/2016Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during POR-GSW game (playoff)
09/05/2016Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-POR game (playoff)
27/04/2016Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during HOU-GSW game (playoff)
16/04/2016Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during HOU-GSW game (playoff)
10/04/2016Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-SAS game
07/04/2016Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during SAS-GSW game
20/02/2016Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-LAC game
19/02/2016Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-POR game
20/01/2016Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-CHI game
16/01/2016Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-DET game
09/01/2016Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-SAC game
02/01/2016Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during DEN-GSW game
28/12/2015Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during SAC-GSW game
12/12/2015Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-MIL game
08/12/2015Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-IND game
11/11/2015Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-MEM game
04/11/2015Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during LAC-GSW game
27/10/2015Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during NOP-GSW game
07/06/2015Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during CLE-GSW game (playoff)
23/05/2015Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-HOU game (playoff)
05/05/2015Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during MEM-GSW game
26/02/2015Technical Foul$4,000For technical foul during GSW-CLE game
24/02/2015Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-WAS game
06/02/2015Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-ATL game
03/02/2015Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-SAC game
31/01/2015Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during PHX-GSW game
14/01/2015Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during MIA-GSW game
07/01/2015Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during IND-GSW game
16/12/2014Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-MEM game
14/12/2014Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-NOP game
23/11/2014Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-OKC game
11/11/2014Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during SAS-GSW game
14/04/2014Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during MIN-GSW game
24/02/2014Technical Foul$3,000For technical foul during GSW-DET game
15/01/2014Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during DEN-GSW game
26/12/2013Ejection$15,000For failing to leave the court in a timely manner following ejection from GSW-LAC game
25/12/2013Ejection$2,000For ejection from GSW-LAC game
13/12/2013Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during HOU-GSW game
25/11/2013Unnecessarily Entering Fight Area (active involvement)$20,000For “escalating the incident” between Andrew Bogut and Joel Freeland during POR-GSW game
23/11/2013Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during POR-GSW game
23/11/2013Ejection$2,000For ejection (fighting) from POR-GSW game
09/11/2013Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-MEM game
31/10/2013Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-LAC game
14/11/2012Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during ATL-GSW game
09/11/2012Technical Foul$2,000For technical foul during GSW-LAL game
11 games$2,547,662

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