Draymond Green looks to turn over a new leaf: 'I've cost my team enough'

Draymond Green wouldn't be Draymond Green if it wasn't for his attitude, because that toughness has translated onto the court for 12 NBA seasons that have seen him become a four All-Star and make eight All-Defensive teams (including a Defensive Player of the Year award) all the while being a major piece of four championships for the Golden State Warriors.

Green being a "tough guy" reminiscent of the "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons of the late '80s is part of the package that makes him so great, but lately, he's been more trouble than what he's been worth for the Warriors.

For the past few weeks, he's been serving an indefinite suspension for swinging at Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic after the two got tangled up on an out-of-bounds play in mid-December. 

The punch was Green's latest incident but it was far from his only in recent memory, and that's what led to the indefinite suspension.

A few weeks have gone by that included league-mandated therapy for Green, and now that he's reinstated and back with the team, he claims to be turning over a new leaf.

"I've cost my team enough. I've cost this organization enough," Green said in a news conference on Tuesday, per ESPN.

Whether or not this is simply lip service from Green remains to be seen, but it's worth noting that he seems to think the time away from the game was valuable. 

"Basketball was the least important thing to me. I needed a break," he explained. "One of the best things for me was not waking up the next day like, alright, I've got to get this work in."

It's also worth noting that head coach Steve Kerr wants to see a new attitude from Green.

"He's still obviously a huge part of this thing and a huge part of our leadership. He is going to reassume that mantle. But he needs the awareness that comes with what he's just gone through and what he has put the team through, as well," Kerr said.

Though Green has rejoined the team in practice, there is not yet a date scheduled for his return to game action.