Minnesota center Rudy Gobert says he has “empathy” for Draymond Green in the aftermath of the league indefinitely suspending the Warriors forward.
The NBA, citing a “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts,” handed down the indefinite suspension after Green struck Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic. Tuesday’s incident between Green and Nurkic was already the third ejection for Green this season. On Nov. 11 Green was given a second technical and ejected for shoving Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell, followed four days later by his chokehold on Gobert that landed him a five-game suspension.
“I have empathy for him,” Gobert said ESPN’s Tim McMahon after the Wolves’ 119-101 win over the Mavs. “You see somebody that’s not well inside and suffering. You take away the game and all that, and you want somebody to be well and be able to do what we do every night and compete and be happy.”
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters Thursday he thinks the indefinite suspension “makes sense” because it’s become more than basketball, it’s about “helping Draymond.”
“To me this is about more than basketball, it’s about helping Draymond. I think it’s an opportunity for Draymond to step away and make a change in his approach, in his life, and that’s not an easy thing to do,” said Kerr.
While some may deem the punishment harsh, Gobert thinks the NBA taking action was necessary for player safety.
“I’m not sure what that really means, so it’s hard to tell. I mean, you don’t want someone to get badly hurt. You’ve got to fix that. That’s it,” Gobert said.
