Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green will not compete for Team USA in the Paris Olympics, according to USA Basketball Executive Director Grant Hill. Green was left out of the player pool due to bans.
Green, who has won two gold medals for Team USA, has been suspended twice this season.
“His contributions have been significant, and he is a true part of the legacy of this organization for his excellence,” Hill said, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN. “But I think just in lieu of sort of what’s transpired this year, we made a decision to not have [Green] on this list with this particular point in time with the process.”
Green was punished for five games after putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock. The Warriors legend was then suspended indefinitely after hitting Phoenix Suns big man Jusuf Nurkic in the head. Green missed 12 games before being reinstated, plus four more while preparing to return.
NBA News and Rumors: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors, Grant Hill, Team USA Updates
“We all understand and certainly have great respect and sensitivity to this particular period in his career, and he’s working through some things both on and off the court,” Hill went on to say. “So we at USA Basketball wanted to support him on his quest, and we just didn’t think that playing over the summer provides him the best opportunity to do what he
Green, a four-time NBA champion, averages 9.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.7 blocks this season for the Warriors, shooting 49.1% from the field, 44.2% from beyond the arc, and 84.4% from the free throw line.
NBA News and Rumors: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors, Grant Hill, Team USA Updates
In July, the Warriors inked Green to a four-year contract worth $100 million.