Draymond Green’s return from suspension is expected to come in the limelight, at a familiar venue.
The four-time All-Star appears set to play in the Warriors’ game Monday in Memphis against the Grizzlies as he is not on Golden State’s injury report, which had previously listed him as he ramped up conditioning. The 3 p.m. PT game will be aired on TNT nationally as part of the NBA’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day slate.
Green has missed 16 games since being suspended indefinitely for striking Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face during a Dec. 12 game. He was reinstated last Sunday and has since been around the team, but was getting back into playing shape.
The Warriors have gone 8-8 without him and are halfway through a four-game trip, having won Friday in Chicago and lost Saturday in Milwaukee.
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FedEx Forum, the Grizzlies’ home arena, is a place where Green has showcased the “antics” he says he needs to cut out in order to focus on helping the Warriors win: In Game 1 of the Warriors’ 2022 playoff series against the Grizzlies, he was ejected for a flagrant foul on Brandon Clarke, then amped up the Memphis crowd, skipping on his way to the locker room.
Of course, the Warriors went on to win that game, the series and the NBA Finals two rounds later.
Green’s absence has been notable as the Warriors stood 16th in the NBA with a defensive rating of 113.6 before the suspension and since have been 29th in the 30-team league with a defensive rating of 123.8.
