Following his second suspension of the season, Draymond Green chose to stay away from the Golden State Warriors facility and spent time in his Los Angeles home. During this period, he participated in counseling sessions and virtual meetings to fulfill his reinstatement obligations. Green missed 16 games after an incident where he struck Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face. Despite being away, Green remained in contact with teammates Stephen Curry and Chris Paul, as well as Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
Green's absence provided an opportunity for 21-year-old forward Jonathan Kuminga to step up and solidify his spot in the starting lineup. Kuminga's performance improved significantly during this time, averaging 18.4 points in the 16 games without Green. The duo has developed an effective partnership on the court, with the team performing well when both start.
