Why the Memphis Grizzlies should keep Danny Green: Veteran Leadership
It goes without saying that Danny Green is an extremely well-respected veteran around the league.
His 13 years of NBA experience, 12 of which included playoff experience, show his successful tenure thus far. He has also appeared in four NBA Finals, in which he won three with three different squads in the Spurs, Raptors, and Lakers.
He has played a total of 165 playoff games in his career, which is 35 more than the whole Grizzlies roster besides Steven Adams combined. Even if you add Steven Adams’ 66 career playoff games to the mix, Green would not trail the full team’s experience by much. He can provide a voice of much-needed experience to the youthful Memphis Grizzlies come playoff time that not many other guys around the league can offer.
The timetable on his return to game action after such a devastating leg injury at 35 years old is questionable, but even if he can not play until the playoffs, his knowledge of the game that he can pass down to this young Grizzlies squad would be highly beneficial. He was a member of the All-Defensive second team in 2016-17, so even if his athleticism is not like it was in his prime or even a year ago, he can provide his voice to help guys know where to be defensively in certain situations.
His mentality and off-the-court presence also fit perfectly with the culture that the Grizzlies have built.
On his podcast, “Inside the Green Room”, Green stated “I will be back. It’s not going to take me a year. I will be back before the all-star break, and you better believe it. I’ll work my tail off in rehab to get back healthy…”
This shows the true grit and desire to contribute to winning basketball that Danny Green possesses, which is what the Grizzlies basketball is all about.
Danny Green’s veteran leadership and his championship pedigree, regardless of his playing status, would undoubtedly be a pro for the Grizzlies next season.