Warriors’ Draymond Green says Adam Silver convinced him not to retire

Draymond Green reflects on NBA suspension, Steph Curry & Adam Silver conversations, Warriors return

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green said Monday that NBA commissioner Adam Silver had talked him out of retiring during his recent suspension.

Green, who received an indefinite ban from the league after an altercation with Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic on December 12, expressed his intention to leave basketball in a conversation with Silver. However, the commissioner urged him to reconsider, expressing his belief in Green’s ability to grow from the experience.

“I told him, ‘Adam, this is too much for me…. This is too much. It’s all becoming too much for me, and I’m going to retire,’” Green said in in The Draymond Green Show podcast. “And Adam said, ‘You’re making a very rash decision, and I won’t let you do that.’”

The incident with Nurkic was the second violent act that drew a suspension for Green in a month’s time. He had been previously suspended for dragging Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert across the court in a chokehold on November 14.

The four-time NBA champion said Silver’s perspective was a breath of fresh air. Green said that it felt good to know someone believed in him despite his recent missteps.

“We had a long, great conversation—very helpful to me. I’m very thankful to play in a league with a commissioner like Adam, who’s more about helping you than hurting you; helping you than punishing you. He’s more about the players,” he said.

Green’s upcoming return

Green missed 14 games during his suspension and is now working on getting back into game shape with the Warriors, aiming for a return sometime this week.

The team has publicly expressed support for Green throughout the process. However, Warriors coach Steve Kerr remarked that Green “has to change, and he knows that.”

Green underwent a month of counseling with representatives from the league office, the team and the players’ association, as well as his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports.

The Warriors currently hold the 12th spot in the Western Conference with a record of 17 losses and 19 wins.

Throughout the 15 games played this season, Green’s statistics reflect an average of 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. Green is estimated to lose $153,941 for every game he missed due to suspension in the first season of his four-year contract.