There appears to be a clearer picture as to when Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green will be able to return from his indefinite suspension.
Green has missed the Warriors’ last six games entering their Christmas Day clash against the Denver Nuggets.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, there is a “general belief” that Green’s suspension will end within the range of 11 to 13 games. Woj indicated that the range presupposes that there aren’t “any setbacks” in Green’s recovery.
The report added that Green has been subjected to periodic Zoom meetings intended to chart the All-Star’s “progress toward reinstatement.” Representatives from the Warriors, the NBA, and the player’s union are reportedly included in the meetings with Green.
Last week, the NBA discussed the reasoning behind the indefinite suspension. The league reportedly wanted to take a more rehabilitative approach with Green’s suspension rather than one based on punishment.
An 11-to-13-game suspension estimate would place the 33-year-old’s comeback during the tail-end of a 7-game Warriors homestand in mid-January.
Golden State hosts the Detroit Pistons on January 5, the Toronto Raptors on January 7, and the New Orleans Pelicans on January 10 — the three games that fall within the report’s projected range for Green’s suspension. The team will then embark on a 4-game road trip after the lengthy homestand.
The Warriors’ success without Green likely does take some pressure off from the team to try and rush his return. Golden State is 5-1 over their first 6 games since Green was suspended for striking Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic earlier this month.
