NBA shouldn’t suspend Jamal Murray for heat pack throw, says Draymond Green – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

While the NBA world debated what punishment Murray should face for his actions, Green said he doesn’t believe the Nuggets guard should be suspended.

“I was just online and I see people saying, ‘Oh, Jamal Murray is probably going to get suspended for throwing the heat pack,'” Green said. “I mean, I didn’t think he would be suspended, even though it was very dangerous. (If) someone steps on it, A it leaves a wet spot and B can really jack someone up.”

“But I didn’t see that and I thought – my first thought wasn’t, ‘Ah, he’s going to be suspended.’ It’s crazy how people just start calling for lockdowns these days. But when I say that, man, Denver is in a bad place right now.

Of course, Green knows what could warrant an NBA suspension. The Warriors veteran has six career suspensions, including four in the 2023 calendar year during the 2023-23 and 2023-24 NBA seasons.

After the game, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch called Murray’s behavior “inexcusable.” And on Tuesday’s episode of “First Take,” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith vehemently disagreed with Green — but understood his thinking.

“I hope he doesn’t get suspended because I really like Jamal Murray,” Smith said. “But that’s not what it is all about here. It’s about the fact that (Murray) committed an act that even Draymond Green himself admits could have been very, very dangerous. That warrants a one-game suspension, or at least a very stiff one, good.

“Well, I can understand Draymond Green not thinking about that. Why should that be so? Of course you would think so. You are a player first, a champion second, but third and most importantly, you have had your fair share of suspensions and some that you may have felt were unfair.

“Of course you would think that way, but that’s why you have neutral eyes when you look at it, rather than someone jaded by their career and (who) is more inclined to exercise a certain amount of leniency towards one of their contemporaries.”

As Smith noted, Green is certainly not responsible for who gets NBA bans and who doesn’t. But with Minnesota holding a two-nil lead over defending champion Denver in the Western Conference semifinals, the Nuggets probably wish the Warriors’ star could have a say.

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