Few understand the ins and outs of the NBA better than Los Angeles Lakers guard Danny Green.
He started on the fringes of the league and saw a glimpse of LeBron James’ first run in Cleveland, before winning championships with San Antonio and Toronto in his career, on his way to becoming one of the league’s most dependable two-way wings. But he’s currently on a run he’s never experienced before as his Los Angeles Lakers have jumped out to a 17-3 start, one that he called ‘special’ on and off the court.
Green sat down with USA TODAY’s LeBron Wire on Monday morning to discuss a promotion with the Lakers and Delta Airlines, but we managed to touch on some other topics such as how the China trip brought the team together and how LeBron’s ability to take criticism has set the tone for the entire Lakers team.
LeBron Wire: 20 games in, 17-3, where would you say you are at? Your goals are bigger than a good record, are you in good position for your bigger goals?
Danny Green, Los Angeles Lakers: I think we are. We recognize obviously we’re ahead of where we expected to be. But we know we can potentially do so much more. Not so much more, but we have a ways to go. That’s what’s so exciting about it. Our best games, we still haven’t played our best basketball. We still have a good amount of room to grow and get better. We also still haven’t been focused for a full 48 minutes this season.
LW: Going back to Cleveland with LeBron, is there anything with his leadership that you notice is different? Is he more vocal than he used to be?
DG: He’s always been vocal. He’s just got that championship DNA right now. He’s matured over the years not only as a player but as a person. He does more things off the court with teammates. We bond, we have a group that’s in-tune and he knows how important that is for us to be clicking on the court. And it’s the most surprising thing to me at this point in his career is he’s a guy that’s accepting criticism to learn and will actually listen to his teammates to let them push him. You don’t see guys who are superstars, or even guys that are the greatest player to ever play or the greatest of his era, willing to openly be accepting of criticism. Actually listening to teammates. Not just giving orders but taking orders. Yes, he’s been a great leader not just to win but he cares about the group and the bigger picture.
LW: Any stories of LeBron taking criticism recently? Any examples of him taking criticism for the betterment of the team?
DG: There’s so many, there’s not just one. He’ll take ownership when he does mess up. In a film session he will say that’s my box-out, that’s my x-out, that guy there was a miss. And we will tell him, ‘Bron you need to do this, we need to you be more aggressive, we need you to pass more, he’ll listen. He’ll actually take that with a positive attitude and actually apply it to the game to help our team.
LW: So you’re taking to me because of this Delta collaboration with the Lakers for the Showtime Seat Exchange, what’s the deal?
DG: It’s an amazing, amazing collaboration. I was very excited for this one. It’s no shock as to why, it’s an exceptional collaboration with a great airline like Delta. I think it’s amazing to give people an opportunity to exchange tickets for seats and how quickly it happens. The first few days it filled out and they will give people another opportunity to do it again in the New Year. It’s pretty cool for people to donate their game tickets and then you get the opportunity to fly anywhere. It’s great that they give people a chance to see the game and if you have tickets leftover, you have a chance to fly anywhere in the world.
LW: Cool. How big of a factor is Anthony Davis in instilling the attitude on defense?
DG: He’s been the Defensive Player of the Year. Hands down. He’s led by his actions, by his vocal, by his communication. His standards for everybody and for ‘Bron. He’s the reason why you see ‘Bron out there scrambling and hustling, doing all the things that he’s been doing. He’s been pushing him on that end of the floor. We all have, but those two have a special relationship. AD has been leading by example and with his words and what he’s done vocally. That’s why our defense has been so great thus far. We want to try and be better for the full 48, but he’s the foundation of our defense.
LW: Big road trip but you have the Christmas game against the Clippers, can you look at it as a chance for redemption for opening night?
DG: We look forward to every chance to play against everybody. Not just the Clippers but we lost to Toronto and we lost to Dallas. We’ve played Dallas twice, we beat them in a close one before, those are teams that will be marked on our calendar. There’s a lot of great teams in the West and the East, above-.500 teams. We have a helluva road trip coming up with Denver, Utah and Portland. It’s going to be interesting and fun at the same time. But of course the Clippers, how good of a team they are and how good they are playing, it’s a real good challenge for us to take head on.
LW: How special has this start to the season been compared to some of the other experiences in your career?
DG: I mean, I don’t think I’ve ever started this well record-wise. I’ve been on some pretty special teams but more so than anything, which is more important than record, it’s the bonding, the chemistry. I’ve been a part of some real good teams where the chemistry on the court was unbelievable but I’ve never been a part of a team where the chemistry has been…I think the China trip really helped us. It’s been unbelievable off the court. We talk to each other, we talk to each other in our group chat, we hang out off the court, we plan things together. I think the China trip is what really helped us. I’ve never been part of a group that clicked this early, everybody hanging out with everybody, this early in the season. Yeah, that’s what makes it special for me. We’re having a lot of fun off the court together, that’s something I’ll never forget. I think these are memories that guys will keep close to them and hold them because of the group we have and how special it’s been off the court.