Tag: Danny Green

Former North Carolina standout retires from professional basketball

Danny Green has announced his retirement from professional basketball.

Danny Green was a key piece to North Carolina’s 2009 national championship team, helping the Tar Heels capture Roy Williams’ second title.

The forward spent four seasons at North Carolina as a big recruit in that 2005 class that also included Tyler Hansbrough, Marcus Ginyard, Mike Copeland and Bobby Frasor. Following his college career, Green had a successful NBA career spending 15 seasons in the league.

And now at 37 years old, Green is saying goodbye to basketball.

Green has retired from basketball on Thursday, posting a message to social media to say goodbye. The forward developed into a three-point sharpshooter as well as a really good defensive player in the league. Over his career, Green shot 40 percent from the three-point line making a total of 1,577 three-pointers, ranking 43rd in NBA history.

While Green was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, he spent one season there before joining the San Antonio Spurs. With the Spurs, Green won his first NBA title in 2014. He then won a title with the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers in 2019 and 2020.

Green is just one of four players in NBA history to win a championship with three different teams.

Over the course of his NBA career, Green averaged 8.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 832 games.

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Did former Tar Heel Danny Green just hint at an NBA comeback?

Former Tar Heel and 15-year NBA veteran Danny Green may not be done playing basketball yet.

Remember the 2009 UNC men’s basketball team, the one which many debate is the greatest in program history?

There were several future NBA players on that championship-winning Tar Heels roster, most notably Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson. Other starters included Marcus Ginyard, Deon Thompson and Wayne Ellington, with Ellington’s perimeter shooting abilities helping him carve out a respectable NBA career.

One player that doesn’t get enough credit on that roster, if you ask me, is Danny Green. His calling at North Carolina was defense, as evidenced by his 2009 selection to the All-ACC Defensive Team, but Green also improved as a scorer each season.

Green’s most memorable moment at UNC – besides winning the 2009 NCAA Tournament with is teammates – was dunking over Greg Paulus AT Duke. I remember watching that game on TV, but imagine being there – and seeing the shocked look amongst the Cameron Crazies.

Green was solid as a Tar Heel, but like Cole Anthony, he blossomed much more in his NBA career. Green developed a knack for draining perimeter shots at a high clip, particularly in the playoffs, plus he’s a 3-time NBA Finals Champion.

The 15-year NBA veteran is currently a free agent, but at age 37, still feels he can play in the league.

Check out what Green had to say at Ballin in the RGV, a Texas-based basketball camp he hosted earlier in July:

“I would love to come back if I had the opportunity,” Green said in a recent interview. “I have not officially retired. There’s free agency going on right now, and my phone lines are open.”

Green’s announcement comes at the perfect time, as the NBA regular season doesn’t start until October.

There’s always a need for 3-point shooting, particularly in today’s game. Where will Green go if a team signs him?

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The remaining active NBA players from each draft class between 2003 and 2010

It is truly remarkable that LeBron is still playing as well as he does.

With each passing season, more and more players in the previous generation of the NBA are graduating into retirement.

Some of the most recognizable and dominant players of a beloved era (e.g. Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, etc.) have recently ended their professional playing careers.

As the league begins to look increasingly different every year, we decided to look at which players drafted before 2011 are still active in the league. There are only 30 players who fit those qualifications and only 19 have started more than one game this season.

Here is a look at each NBA draft class and who remains active years later.

All data is provided via Stathead and is accurate as of publishing.

Danny Green still rooting for Sixers, hoping for opportunity to return

Danny Green is still rooting for the Philadelphia 76ers and he has hope that there’s an opportunity to return for him.

When the Philadelphia 76ers sent James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers on Halloween, they had to make a corresponding move because they received more players than they sent out.

To make room, the Sixers waived Danny Green. Philadelphia brought Green back on a one-year deal after he spent the 2022-23 season with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played two games with the Sixers before he was waived.

While on FanDuel’s “Run it Back,” Green admitted he roots for the teams he used to play for. Especially, the Sixers as he hopes for the chance to return:

I will say this, I am not rooting against Philly right now. I’m still watching those guys. I root for my friends on the team that I left, I still want to see them do well. The team itself? You don’t want to see do well unless you leave on a really good note. Toronto, I left on a really good note. LA, I left on a pretty good note, but still, you kinda watch how they’re playing, you don’t hope they do so great that you’re gone, but with Philly, I’m still rooting for them because I think there’s an opportunity for me to end up back there. Hopefully, in the near future.

Green is a veteran player who can still produce. Whether the Sixers will be able to find a roster spot for him remains to be seen, but if Philadelphia were to bring him back, he would be helpful on the floor and in the locker room.

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Danny Green reacts to Sixers waiving him following James Harden deal

Danny Green reacts to the Philadelphia 76ers waiving him after the James Harden deal.

The Philadelphia 76ers did what they had to, sending James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers. It’s what Harden wanted, and the Sixers now have the assets — draft picks and expiring contracts — needed to make moves later.

However, the Sixers had to make a corresponding move. They brought back four players and sent out three. So the Sixers waived veteran Danny Green.

The Sixers brought back Green on a non-guaranteed deal shortly before training camp. After the Harden deal was made, President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey called the veteran to give him the news.

Green stated on “Inside the Green Room”:

It was about 2 in the morning, 2:30 In the morning. I get the call from Daryl and he wanted me to hear from him first. So I appreciate him calling, reaching out, and showing me the respect, but he said there was a trade that was made. They got more players than they sent out and, unfortunately, they had to waive somebody, and my contract was the one that needed to be waived, and this is even more unfortunate, I’m 90% done unpacking my stuff. Took the dogs out. I come back in, I’m pretty much unpacking all day, and I think we’re probably 7/8 through, probably 85% done, and getting rid of stuff. So this happens as I’m almost done unpacking all my stuff. We just moved in about a week ago, just got the family here about a week ago. You know, the wife, the baby, the dogs. So we just got somewhat settled in the crib for about seven days and now it’s like, got to figure it out.

Green played in the first two games of the season for the Sixers, but he didn’t look great. It appears age has caught up to him. He had a tough time on the defensive end, and he also couldn’t find any open looks from deep. However, he had a terrific preseason, so he may still be a help to a contending team. It will be interesting to see where he ends up.

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76ers waive ex-Spurs wing Danny Green following James Harden trade to Clippers

In tandem with the James Harden trade, the Philadelphia 76ers waived former San Antonio Spurs wing Danny Green.

In tandem with the trade that sent James Harden to the LA Clippers, the Philadelphia 76ers have released former San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green. The move was necessary in order to make room for the return in the Harden deal, as the 76ers got back four players and only sent out three.

Green signed with Philadelphia this summer, making his return to the city after one season away from the team following his catastrophic injury in the 2022 playoffs. He tore his ACL and LCL in Game 6 of the 76ers’ second-round series against the Miami Heat and missed the majority of the following season.

Now, Green will become a free agent and can sign wherever he pleases.

Sixers excited to see how Raptors will honor Nick Nurse in return

The Philadelphia 76ers are excited to see how the Toronto Raptors will honor Nick Nurse in his return to the city.

TORONTO–New Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse spent the previous 10 years north of the border as part of the Toronto Raptors. He spent five years as an assistant and five years as a head coach before migrating to Philadelphia.

In those five years as a head coach, Nurse had a ton of success that will etch him into not only Raptors lore, but Toronto sports lore as a whole. He led the Raptors to their one and only championship in 2019 and he had a lot of success overall winning 227 games across the five years.

“He’s coached a lot of different places, but this is his staple,” acknowledged Danny Green who was on that 2019 Raptors team. “His foundation. This is where he kinda made a home and he won a championship here. The first time they ever experienced it so for him to bring a championship to the city, they’re always going to remember that. They’re always going to love anybody that’s a part of that group for that. It was that special.”

Nurse was essential in the development of Raptors stars such as Pascal Siakm and OG Anunoby and former Toronto All-Star Fred VanVleet. He made an undeniable impact in Toronto and Green knows that the Raptors will honor him the right way.

“Canadians love their sports,” said Green. “They love their players, they love their people, so I can assume that they’re really gonna show him a lot of love, and they should. 10 years is a long time. Especially, in this league for one organization. Five years an assistant. Five years as a head coach. I can’t wait to see what the video is they put together for him. I can’t wait to see the love they show for him. He definitely earned it and deserves it.”

Green knows how great of a city Toronto can be and how much Nurse is loved in the city. He played for the Raptors when they won the title and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they had to keep pushing back the ring ceremony for him when he kept making his return to Toronto.

When he finally got his championship ring from 2019, he was able to do it in front of the fans inside the Scotiabank Arena.

“It worked out because the time that I missed when I had COVID, nobody could make it and the time that we pushed it back to, they opened up the arena so it was great, man,” Green said with a smile. “It was warm welcoming. It was loving. They showed a lot of love. Every time I’m here, there’s always so much love. It’s a place I can call home. I miss and love the city very much for a multitude of reasons, but Canadians, they’re amazing, man. They’re amazing.”

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Nine former UNC Basketball players on 2023-2024 NBA rosters

The NBA is well-represented by former Tar Heels, with nine suiting up across seven teams. The newest professional Tar Heel is Leaky Black.

NBA fans, sing your praises – the regular season is finally upon us.

Opening night kicked off on Tuesday, Oct. 24, with Lakers-Nuggets and Suns-Warriors giving fans an appetizer. There will be a full slate of games tonight, highlighted by Celtics-Knicks and Mavericks-Spurs, plus more to come throughout the weekend.

Tar Heel fans are highly anticipating the UNC season opener on Monday, Nov. 6 against Radford, but there’s good reason for them to also be excited about the NBA.

Nine former Tar Heels – Leaky Black, Cole Anthony, Day’Ron Sharpe, Harrison Barnes, Danny Green, Nassir Little, Coby White, Cam Johnson and Reggie Bullock – are on NBA rosters.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CyzMY5zsFVw/?hl=en

A couple of them are starting, a few are valuable role players while one is a rookie.

Let’s take a deeper look at each former Tar Heel and how long they’ve been in the NBA for. Will any of them walk away with another championship?

Sixers feel confident, prepared to play with or without James Harden

The Philadelphia 76ers feel confident and prepared to play with or without James Harden.

CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers have been through this before.

Two years ago, Ben Simmons was causing a similar disruption through his own trade request. The Sixers were uncertain whether he would play or not.

Now, they are going through it with James Harden. The future Hall of Famer requested a trade in June. While he showed up for training camp in Colorado and has been with the team during practice, he has not played in any games. He also missed practice on Wednesday.

While some may believe the Sixers are clouded in uncertainty, the players  themselves believe they’re going to be OK.

“For sure,” Danny Green said. “It’s something we’ve done in the past. We have more mature players now. We have a couple different pieces. A lot of depth. We have a great group that can get it done. Especially, when you have Joel, Tyrese and Tobias. That’s a good foundation. Then we have Tuck (PJ Tucker), myself, Pat (Beverley), Kelly (Oubre Jr.). We have some veteran leadership there and some of the young guys that can get it done.”

The message coach Nick Nurse has preached is “If he’s here, we go. If he’s not here, we go.” Essentially this means the Sixers are focused on themselves and trying to succeed. No matter what happens with Harden, there is not much the Sixers can do. They just want to play basketball.

“Most of the time, when we’ve played, we’ve been playing together just mixing and matching a bunch of different lineups which has been great, but it’s been good,” Joel Embiid added. “I think we’ll be prepared either way.”

Tyrese Maxey was in just his second season when this happened with Simmons. He had to run the offense as the team’s point guard and score. That was a challenge for him given how young and inexperienced he was. Now, he will assume a similar role, but he’s far better equipped.

“Oh, it’s night and day,” Green added of Maxey. “He’s played enough games now to where he has a veteran IQ, presence, the way that he can change the pace of the game, change the tempo of the game, or even change the game. Take over a game.”

While the Sixers continue to work through this Harden situation, they believe they have the right pieces to remain successful thanks to Maxey’s growth.

“His maturity and how he’s grown as a player is a huge difference from his rookie year to now,” Green added. “That makes us even more dangerous where we don’t have to rely on Joel as much when we have a guy like Tyrese and Tobias (Harris) and other guys that can bring different energies offensively and defensively.”

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Joel Embiid, other Sixers react to James Harden missing practice

Joel Embiid and other members of the Philadelphia 76ers react to James Harden missing practice on Wednesday.

CAMDEN, N.J. — The saga between James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers took another turn on Wednesday when the future Hall of Famer did not attend practice. It is the first time he has missed practice; he had been a true professional since reporting to training camp.

However, The Beard was absent on Wednesday as the Sixers prepared for the preseason finale on Friday against the Atlanta Hawks. Harden, per reports, is in Houston as he waits for a trade to happen. The Los Angeles Clippers, his preferred destination, are working to come up with a package, but it hasn’t been close to what Philadelphia is looking for.

Joel Embiid and other Sixers reacted to Harden missing practice on Wednesday: