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Danny Green on 2020 title: 'It was more of a relief winning it than it was like a celebration'
Danny Green on 2020 title: “We enjoyed the time, but said also was short-lived because the next season circled right around the next six weeks. We won in like mid October and then early December was like, "All right, we got to get back to work because we got to get this thing rolling by Christmas… (…) It was more relief than celebrating it, finally we're done, we can get out of here. I couldn't imagine losing and having to go that far, be there for that long. I'd be highly upset. It was more of a relief winning it than it was like a celebration of like, "Oh, we achieved something." It was like, "Damn, we get to go home finally."
There’s a conversation that Stephen A. Smith started. He’s saying that people don’t want to go to Memphis because it’s dangerous — like it’s a gang-gang over there, right? Danny Green: Yeah, I mean, he’s not far off. I don’t think that’s the reason why, though. I just don’t think it’s a destination city. Nashville is one of the cities that people enjoy. Memphis — it is in Tennessee, so you get a tax cut. Like, it’s good on taxes. But it’s just not a city that’s pretty, I guess. Host: You played there. Do you get that danger vibe? Danny Green: Nah. In certain areas, you’ve got to be careful. But I didn’t think it was the most dangerous. I also played in Philly. Exactly. There are so many cities in America. Like, I think — yeah, if they know you, they respect you. If you know what you're doing, know where you're going — obviously don’t do silly things. Don’t go into certain places by yourself at certain times of day or night. But the city usually respects the players.
Danny Green on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 'He reminds me of Kobe'
Which isn’t to say Green doesn’t also appreciate Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Canadian who won league MVP this year. “I love the fact that he still, he reminds me of Kobe (Bryant). He still does a lot in the mid-range and a lot of footwork and fundamentals,” Green said. “A lot of people are not happy or disappointed with how many threes are being taken and that we don’t have traditional back-to-the-basket games anymore, post-ups and go with big men, and have mid-range games. And it was kind of being pushed out of the game and becoming obsolete. “So the fact that (Gilgeous-Alexander and others), they mix up their game and they make sure that they continue to not only improve, but show how important it is to be able to score on all levels, to be able to defend and to do all the other little things that matter, outside of shooting the ball from the three-point line.”
“All these guys have a chip on their shoulder and exterior motivations from people that have always doubted them and criticized them,” Green told Postmedia on a recent video call. “So to see (the Pacers) kind of shut those people up and make it to where they are, I couldn’t be happier for the group,” he said after also comparing them to his Raptors team that wasn’t expected to even make it to the final round, let alone win the championship. “Because I was one of those guys that was always doubted as well. So I know the similar criticism that they’re getting.”
“It’s great,” Green said of Siakam getting back to the biggest stage six years after Toronto’s win (Green himself went five years between going twice for San Antonio and his return with Toronto, then also made it the next year with the Los Angeles Lakers). “A lot of people were, I wouldn’t say doubting him, but they just were so quote/unquote disappointed that he was not becoming the No. 1 option they expected to be when he went to Indiana (in a trade from the Raptors), and for them all to beat the odds.
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"We had LaMarcus Aldridge on the show last year. He kind of detailed—low-key—the falling out between Pop and Kawhi. Did you see that up close and personal? What was your take?" Danny Green: "I saw some of what was happening. I never—till this day—asked Kawhi, between me and him, what happened. I’ve heard from other people about things that went down, and I can give you my version—my mathematics—of what I think happened." "I think his uncle had a lot to do with what was going on. A lot of influence. And I think once his uncle saw some things he didn’t like—it was like, 'Alright, we’re not doing this. We’re not going to deal with this.' You know, in San Antonio, they don’t treat anybody like superstars. And I think Kawhi’s uncle—rightfully so—believed he should’ve been treated like one. But Timmy didn’t care. Timmy never asked for that treatment, so Pop never had to treat him like a superstar."
Danny Green: "Then Kawhi had the injury, Tony [Parker] said some things in the media, then Pop said some things. And from what I understand, Uncle Dennis was like, 'Nah, we’re not doing that.' Kawhi came back, played nine games, and then suddenly it was, 'You’ve got to talk to Kawhi’s people.' To them, that felt disrespectful. And then you had Tony saying stuff that they felt crossed the line. Next thing you know, the word was: 'He’s not putting on a San Antonio Spurs uniform again.'" "Again, I’ve never asked Kawhi directly what happened. Maybe one day we’ll chop it up after he’s done hooping. But I was fortunate enough to play with him in San Antonio and again in Toronto—we had a great year."
Danny Green on LeBron James: "He made the game very easy. But there were also times when it wasn’t as easy, because there’s so much pressure—even if you’re wide open—to execute the play. And that’s because you’re playing with LeBron James. "That pressure is more from the outside than from the inside—’cause Bron ain’t putting that pressure on you. But all the LeBron fans are like, 'Who’s this bum? Why is he playing with Bron?' You know what I’m saying? So, it’s a gift and a curse. But he made the game easy, man. It was a lot of fun learning from him early on, a lot of fun playing against him, and even better to play with him.
Give me something where you just thought, 'God damn, Shaq.'" Danny Green: "Man, there was a lot. So I had to get the donuts by myself. At the time in Ohio, there was only one Krispy Kreme, and it was like 40 minutes outside of Cleveland. You had to drive 40 minutes there and back—and still be at the arena two and a half hours before everyone else. So I was waking up at 6:00 AM just to get donuts. Crazy." "If you didn’t have his donuts, he’d kick the balls in the stands. Shaq had me pledging, man. I had to greet them a certain way, and if I didn’t greet them right—"
Danny Green will be back in Laredo on May 31 to host the School's Out Basketball Camp from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at LBJ High School. Students in first through 12th grades are welcome to the camp, which is presented by SWISH City Laredo. At the camp, Green will have a Q&A, take pictures and give autographs.
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LeBron James on his critics: How can you challenge what I'm doing if you've never stepped foot in the arena?
LeBron James: Even with the criticism—and it still goes on—like in the 2020 Finals, I had an unbelievable game against the Heat. Late in the game, I drove the ball. Two or three defenders came at me. I found Danny Green wide open for a three. He missed it. And we went to Game 5—or Game 6, I believe. I’d make that play every time. JJ Redick: Every time. LeBron James: And I’ll take it every time. And people say, “Why didn’t you take the shot?” “There he goes again—passing up the shot.” They’ve never been there. They don’t understand. One of my favorite quotes—though I don’t know it verbatim—is from Theodore Roosevelt, about the “man in the arena.” "It is not the critic who counts... The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena..." And the loudest voices are always from those not in the arena. So how can you challenge what I’m doing if you’ve never even stepped foot in there?
One player, who has got experience with the same injury is Danny Green, who on the Run It Back podcast said it could be really hard to come back from this injury. "I had a similar situation, I hope it's just an adductor strain and something more, because this can trickle down to the groin or something else," Green said. "If there's any type of tear or 'status pubis', that's what I had, it could take a long time to come back from," Green added. "I was not a very athletic person before the injury, but I wasn't as athletic after. Hopefully he takes care of this injury the right way," Green emphasized the seriousness of the injury.
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