Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
When Danny Green began his NBA career, the first two seasons didn’t go exactly how he had hoped. After being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers 46th overall he played in just 20 games during his rookie season. After just one short year with the Cavs, he was waived.
Green then signed with the San Antonio Spurs a year later in 2010 and he spent most of that year in the D-League, only appearing in a total of eight games. Finally, in his third year during the 2011-2012 season, Green started a total of 38 games for the Spurs after the lockout and finally broke out as he averaged 9.1 points per game.
Last season, Green started all 80 of the games he played in for the Spurs and had his best season yet as he was instrumental in the Spurs’ run to the Finals. Green shot the highest percentage from the field of his career at 44.8 percent — excluding the eight games he played in 2010 — and also played the most minutes per game of his career at 27.5.
For the second straight season, he shot the ball at a scorching 43 percent from beyond the arc. In the playoffs, Green seemed to be automatic from three point range especially in the first few games of the Finals. He was downright dominant at times, scoring at will.
A guy like Green needs to be used even more this next season, and I think the Spurs will continue to try and get him the ball in different ways. Green can flat out shoot the basketball. If he can continue to improve his game as a whole on offense, he could take the Spurs all the way to the Finals again — and this time, bring home the ring.
His story is a great one, as it started off pretty rocky. Green has established himself as one of the best long range shooters in all of basketball. The 26-year old out of North Carolina appears to just be getting started in what should be a long, productive career as a pro. Wouldn’t it be something else, though, if he could be a big reason future Hall of Fame forward Tim Duncan gets his fifth title?
If Green keeps going at this pace, I don’t see how it couldn’t happen. He and Kawhi Leonard are becoming a large part of a very good wing rotation and should be key in the team’s success in 2013.
Ryan Heckman is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanmheckman, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
