Op-Ed: Draymond Green Should Be Counseled as a Person, Not a Player

By: Zachary Draves

It is crunch time for Draymond Green. 

The Golden State Warriors forward and four time NBA All Star known for his versatility and sometimes volatility needs all the help he can get after the league gave him an indefinite suspension on December 14 after he smacked Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face.

According to The Athletic, his suspension is expected to last at least three weeks and he will undergo counseling.

(Courtesy: Reuters)

This is the latest episode in what has become a string of notable incidents of Green, 33, acting violently towards other players. 

In 2022, a video surfaced of him knocking out his teammate Jordan Poole during a pre-season practice. This past April, in Game 2 of the first round playoff series against the Sacramento Kings, Green stomped on the chest of Kings Power Forward Domantas Sabonis and received a one game suspension. On November 14, he put Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Golbert in a chokehold. 

(Courtesy: AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Afterwards, Green, who would land a five game suspension, said that he had no regrets about the incident whereas his coach Steve Kerr said that it “went too far”. 

Now this latest incident was the straw that broke the camel’s back. 

During an appearance on ESPN’s First Take last Thursday, NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars, emphasizes the importance of balancing accountability with redemption. 

“First of all, we knew there would be some level of punishment,” he said. “But we didn’t want that to be the focus. We wanted the focus to be on how can we help Draymond as well. We thought indefinite was the best way to do that.”

Green is certainly in need of counsel, the question becomes what should that look like? The answer is simply to treat him as a human being and get to the bottom of what is really behind these episodic moments of aggression. 

“Sometimes in the mental health profession, we jump to diagnosis”, says Dr. Emmett Gill, founder of AthleteTalk, an image-based wellness and personal development app for athletes. “We need to step back to take a look at who Draymond is and what we have allowed for him to become.”

According to Dr. Gill, that requires looking at the beginning and how it connects to the present day. 

(Courtesy: Christian Petersen/Getty)

“I take a holistic approach,” he said “The first thing that comes through my mind is trauma. He came from what is an impoverished background. With all those things going on in his life, it could be unresolved trauma. All this is playing out because he needs to focus on his emotional regulation.”

Green grew up in a poor neighborhood in Saginaw, Michigan and was raised by a single mother. His mother, Mary Babers, would work multiple jobs just to make ends meet. He also experienced bullying in school and it was those experiences that possibly shaped who he is and how he deals with conflict. 

Perhaps he utilizes the fight response as opposed to freeze or flight as a defense mechanism towards any violation of his space.

As for the socio economic aspect, Green obviously has come a long way and now has a networth of $60 million a year, which poses an interesting question as to what truly matters to him. 

“For a person who has everything they want, is mental health a priority? asked Dr. Gill. “Sometimes our mental health is wrapped up in our income and profession. Draymond has no needs or wants so the question is whether he values his mental health? 

Also there could potentially be a connection between some unresolved trauma that stemmed from growing up in poverty. 

But at the core of this is the need for Green to know how to properly manage his emotions and Dr. Gill believes that AthleteTalk would be beneficial. 

“We have a couple of plans on our app about emotional regulation,” he said. “What I think might be helpful for Draymond is on our social media wellness program. We put out five pieces of original content per day. I think that is what makes our app different every day we display a new human element.”

He certainly can also take advantage of the NBAs’ mental health and wellness program. 

The world is Draymond Greens’ oyster in obvious ways and with an abundance of access and connections, he has all the tools at his disposal to get the help he deserves both in and out of the league. 

But it goes both ways. He has got to want it and those around him should want it for him. 

The end result should be not to just get back to playing, but to see him heal for the long term and harness his mental and emotional well being. 

If anything he can learn a thing or two from some of the game’s greats.

“Once you master your emotions you’re Kobe Bryant, you’re Michael Jordan, you’re Oscar Robertson, you’re Larry Bird, and you’re Steve Nash” said Dr. Gill.

Talk about being in good company.