For most of his professional career, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has marked Christmas Day on the NBA calendar as a work day. However, in December 2023, an unprecedented event forced a dramatic change to his holiday routine. A league-mandated suspension removed him from the basketball court and placed him squarely in his living room with his family.
An Unexpected Holiday Gift Amid Career Turmoil
This moment arrived during one of the most challenging phases of Green's career. The suspension was a consequence of a flagrant foul against Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic. The NBA, referencing Green's history of unsportsmanlike conduct, handed down a 12-game ban. While the veteran star was initially frustrated, he later recognized the silver lining.
Instead of traveling to Denver for a marquee Christmas game, Green experienced a full, traditional Christmas morning at home for the first time in years. He was present as his children opened their gifts, a simple joy often missed by NBA players bound by road games and national television schedules.
"That was great. It was actually f---ing amazing," Green confessed in an interview with ESPN. He contrasted it with previous years, noting the inherent strangeness of the holiday for players. "Usually it's weird because Christmas Day is not like what you remember as a kid," he said. Green revealed he missed his five-year-old's first Christmas due to an away game.
The Heavy Weight of Christmas Stardom
Despite being part of an elite group—only 10 players in history have recorded a triple-double on Christmas Day—Green admitted the holiday carries a complex emotional weight. "As an NBA player, you want to be on that stage, marquee games and everybody's watching," Green stated. "But as a human, it f---ing sucks, if I'm honest."
He reminisced about his childhood, watching legends like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal dominate the Christmas Day broadcasts. Yet, he humorously suggested that with the NFL now also scheduling games on December 25th, perhaps basketball players could finally get the day off to go home to their families.
Suspension Context: Professional and Personal Strain
The incident with Nurkic was not an isolated event but part of a tense season for Green. The league required him to meet with officials and complete certain conditions before reinstatement, accompanied by significant financial penalties and intense public scrutiny.
After the game, Green offered an apology, clarifying his intent. "I am not one to apologize for things I mean to do, but I do apologize to Jusuf because I didn't intend to hit him," he explained, attributing the contact to an exaggerated attempt to "sell" a foul call.
Within the Warriors camp, his absence was keenly felt. Coach Steve Kerr was unequivocal about Green's value to the team's structure. "We need him. We need Draymond. He knows that," Kerr said. "He's got to find a way to keep his poise and be out there for his teammates."
Ultimately, what was a low point professionally transformed into a cherished personal memory for Draymond Green. The enforced break from the game granted him a priceless, uninterrupted Christmas with his loved ones, reframing a period of suspension into a lifelong blessing.
