Draymond, Kuminga and a growing Golden State Warriors bond - ESPN

DRAYMOND GREEN STAYED away from the Golden State Warriors facility following his second suspension of this season, spending time in his Los Angeles home while he participated in counseling sessions and virtual meetings to fulfill his reinstatement obligations.

Green missed 16 games after he struck Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the face in a Dec. 13 loss. During his nearly four weeks away, he remained in contact with teammates Stephen Curry and Chris Paul and Warriors coach Steve Kerr. Green received daily texts from his college coach, Michigan State's Tom Izzo.

But Green, 34, also found himself frequently communicating with teammate Jonathan Kuminga, the 21-year-old forward starting in his place. Green sent Kuminga messages after almost every game that he was away, filled with notes, video clips and voice memos about his performances.

«Him watching the games at home, it was him watching film, pretty much, and it actually helped me understand who I am,» Kuminga told ESPN.

Those conversations between Green and Kuminga have proved invaluable for a team that will depend on the future Hall of Famer and the young forward during a postseason push, one that will likely begin in the Western Conference play-in tournament.

«I wanted to pick up everything he knows,» Kuminga said. «With him, he won't just give [advice] up if you don't compete big-time.»

Reaching that point in their communication has had some bumps. Kuminga's play coming off the bench early in the season was inconsistent, and Green's on-court antics didn't help.

When Green was first suspended five games for putting a chokehold on Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert during a Nov. 14 defeat, Kuminga started in his place the next game, scoring what at that