Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green won’t play in the Paris Olympics for Team USA and USA Basketball Executive Director Grant Hill said Green was left out of the player pool because of his suspensions.
Green, who has won two gold medals with Team USA, has been suspended two times this season.
“His contributions have been significant, and he is a real part of the legacy of this organization for his excellence,” Hill said, via 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 suspended five games after putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock. The Warriors legend was then suspended indefinitely for striking Phoenix Suns big man Jusuf Nurkic in the head. Green missed 12 games before being reinstated and four more games while ramping up to return.
NBA NEWS & 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 said. “And so we at USA Basketball wanted to support him on his journey and we just didn’t feel that playing over the summer gives him the best opportunity to do what he needs to do.”
Green helped Team USA win gold medals in 2016 and 2021. His defense and playmaking will be missed in Paris, but the Americans have more than enough talent to win another gold medal.
A four-time NBA champion, Green is averaging 9.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.4 steals and 0.7 blocks this season for the Warriors while shooting 49.1% from the field, 44.2% from beyond the arc and 84.4% from the free-throw line.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors, Grant Hill, Team USA Updates
The Warriors signed Green to a four-year, $100 million contract in July.
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