Green ‘terrific’ with Sixers in search of fourth title ring
Philadelphia 76ers forward Danny Green has collected NBA championships with the Spurs, Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers.
With the Sixers entering Sunday night’s game against the Spurs an Eastern Conferencebest 26-12, a fourth ring could be in the offing for the 12th-year pro in his first season in Philly.
“He’s been terrific,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers said of Green, who has started every game for Philadelphia and entered Sunday’s contest averaging 8.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 37.8 percent from 3-point range.
Philadelphia has also benefited from Green’s leadership and championship experience. He’s gunning for three consecutive titles after winning rings in 2019 with the Raptors and in 2020 with the Lakers.
“He’s been around, been well-coached, playing in San Antonio, everywhere he’s been,” Rivers said via Zoom. “When you think about it, he’s been with some really good teams all the way through college (at North Carolina). He finds himself on winning teams and I don’t think that’s coincidence.
“That’s part of who he is and what he gives the team on the floor and in the locker room.”
But there was a time early in his career when Green seemed destined for cup-of-coffee status in the NBA.
After winning an NCAA championship with the Tar Heels, he was chosen in the second round by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2009 NBA draft.
But after appearing in just 20 games as a rookie, Green was cut. He landed with the Spurs, but they let him go twice.
Green finally gained a foothold in San Antonio in 2011 and was a key contributor on the 2014 NBA title team.
He spent eight seasons with the Spurs before they traded him to the Raptors in 2018 in the Kawhi Leonard blockbuster.
“I guess the best word would be persistence,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said when asked about Green’s improbable journey.
“I guess we were one of the first teams to give him years, really show some confidence in him. But it took him through Cleveland and other countries before he got to us. He had enough disappointment where it just steeled his spine to be persistent enough to make it, to put in the work.”
Popovich also recalled the well-chronicled story of how North Carolina coach Roy Williams helped him convince Green to become “more serious about everything.”
Buford praised for leadership
The numerous COVID-19 safeguards the Spurs put in place at the AT&T Center underscored the leadership Spurs Sports and Entertainment CEO R.C. Buford has provided throughout the pandemic, Popovich said.
“R.C. sets a tone for the whole organization,” Popovich said. “He is somebody who thinks out of the box. He is an organizer, a manager. He’s managed our basketball operations for so many years. Now he has taken on the responsibility of the whole ball of wax and really done a wonderful job.
“His initiatives, his overall vision have been of paramount importance during this difficult time.”
The Spurs’ ownership promoted Buford, a two-time NBA executive of the year, to CEO in July 2019.
Popovich: Simmons’ jumper no concern
Popovich was asked if 6-foot-11 Sixers point guard Ben Simmons needs to add a jumper to his game to be considered elite.
“It would enhance his game obviously, that can’t be argued with,” Popovich said. “But all of his skills, physical skills, basketball skills, the way he understands the game, is unselfish as he is, he is so elite already. Who gives a damn if he can’t shoot?”
Simmons entered Sunday’s game averaging 16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists. He’s shooting 57.8 percent from the field, but came into the outing having attempted just seven 3-pointers this season.