Draymond Green, a two-time gold medal winner with USA Basketball, will not be included in the player pool as the organization finalizes its roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Grant Hill, the executive director of USA Basketball, cited Green’s two suspensions during the current season with the Golden State Warriors as the primary reason for his omission from the 41-player pool unveiled on Tuesday.
Hill acknowledged Green’s significant contributions and his integral role in the organization’s legacy but emphasized that the decision to exclude him at this point in the process was influenced by the on-court incidents this season. The first incident occurred on Nov. 14 when Green put Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock during a scuffle, resulting in a five-game suspension. On Dec. 12 at Phoenix, Green landed a blow to the face of Suns center Jusuf Nurkic, leading to an indefinite suspension that lasted 12 games.
The USA Basketball player pool features a blend of NBA young talents and seasoned veterans, including names like Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Damian Lillard, and many others. The decision to exclude Green reflects the organization’s commitment to its current evaluation process and considerations of player conduct.