ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith questioned the leadership of Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry as Draymond Green, a forward, was handed his second suspension of the year. 

The Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic was struck by Green on Tuesday, and the NBA suspended him indefinitely on Wednesday for his “repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.” Green’s five-game suspension began one month after he put Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock.

Smith acknowledged the unfair treatment Curry is receiving for not holding his colleague accountable during Thursday’s First Take episode.

Curry said after the Warriors’ 1169-119 loss to Phoenix that Green’s frequent ejections and suspensions are detrimental to the team. The franchise player for Golden State, though, seldom spoke anything about Green’s disrespectful behavior. 

‘We constantly reminded him “You can’t change who you are as a player, the competitive spirit that you have, the physicality that you play with,” ‘ Said Curry. 

“However, it’s difficult because we need him out there when you have to face judge and jury in every single incident.” This is how the league views you.

One of the main causes of the Warriors’ difficulties this season has been player availability. The Dubs will face the Clippers on Thursday with a 10–13 record due to Green’s suspension. 

Green’s floor production has also decreased dramatically since Golden State’s championship years. Green has averaged 9.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game this season. 

Green received a slap on the wrist for stomping on Kings center Domantas Sabonis’ chest during the 2023 NBA Playoffs, prior to the events involving Nurkic and Gobert. 

In contrast, many fans saw Green’s knockout of former colleague Jordan Poole at preseason camp as the first indication that the Warriors were unraveling. 

With his 19th ejection, Green is now the second-most-ejected player in NBA history, behind Rasheed Wallace’s 25. In addition, he has paid more than $3 million in suspension fines.