SAN FRANCISCO — Draymond Green is back in the Warriors’ facility on Sunday after the NBA lifted his indefinite suspension. He has to ramp up before he can return to games, which could take a week or more.
“He’s here and he looks good,” coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s excited to be here. We just had our walkthrough so he took part in the walkthrough. Good to have him back.”
The NBA handed down an indefinite suspension on Dec. 14 for hitting Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face with their own criteria for Green to meet to end it. He wound up missing 12 games and will miss his 13th game on Sunday against the Toronto Raptors at Chase Center.
Green went through a walk-through with the team on Sunday, the first known time he’s participated in team activities since his suspension. The 33-year-old will work with Warriors director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini to get back into game action. There is no set timetable for Green’s return.
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“He’ll work with Rick every day and he’ll get lots of shots up and scrimmage and all that stuff,” Kerr said. “I have no idea when (he will return).”
Sitting at 17-18 heading into Sunday’s game, the Warriors could use Green’s defensive savvy back in the rotation as soon as possible. The team also needs another ballhandler with Chris Paul out anywhere between 4-to-6 weeks after he undergoes hand surgery next week. Green has played in 15 of the Warriors’ 35 games, averaging 5.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 9.7 points per game shooting 42.9% from 3 on 2.8 attempts per game, the most he’s taken since the 2017-18 season.
“Everybody is excited to see him,” Kerr said. “It’s great to have him back. He’s one of our leaders and he’s happy to be back. Good vibe in there.”
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