Draymond Green, an NBA player for the Golden State Warriors, is actively working to redefine himself both on and off the court. With a tumultuous history that includes altercations and suspensions, Green has taken steps towards personal growth. He currently engages with two therapists and a sports psychologist, aiming to transform into a "different" player and person. Green has been participating in mandatory check-in Zoom calls with NBA executives, the Warriors, the players' union, and his agent, reflecting his commitment to change.
This season, Green has accumulated eight technical fouls and one ejection, a noticeable improvement from the four ejections he faced last season. Despite this progress, he missed a recent game against the Sacramento Kings and will be re-evaluated next week. Last season, Green was suspended for five games after placing Rudy Gobert in a chokehold and was indefinitely suspended for striking Jusuf Nurkic in the face, missing 12 games. During these suspensions, he underwent counseling to address his behavior.
Green's efforts to change also extend to mending relationships. Two years ago, an incident involving former teammate Jordan Poole fractured the Warriors' locker room. Green punched Poole after Poole shoved him. This altercation led to apologies from Green, both through a tweet and publicly, to Poole and his family.
"Let's move on, bro. It is what it is." – Draymond Green
Despite the apologies, Green addressed recent comments made by Poole about the incident.
"I responded because it's been three years. Like, let's move on. We've moved on. I really am sorry." – Draymond Green
Green expressed frustration over the lingering discourse surrounding the event.
"I think, for him, you are kind of bringing that back up on yourself. Like when you do that, you just bring up that moment back on yourself. You just got to move on and keep it pushing, man. Got to let it go." – Draymond Green
He hopes that both parties can move past the incident and focus on their respective futures.
"I really am sorry. That statement [by Poole] was kind of like it was looking for some sympathy… kind of keep on make me out to be the bad guy. Move on, bro." – Draymond Green
Green's path towards becoming a better version of himself is ongoing. His engagement with mental health professionals and compliance with organizational check-ins demonstrate a sincere effort to address past behaviors and align with the expectations set by the NBA and his team.
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