After toiling in relative NBA obscurity in Cleveland for his first two years in the league, former UNC standout Danny Green is making a name for himself as a key contributor for the San Antonio Spurs.
With all-world wing player Manu Ginobli injured, Green has had the opportunity to see significant minutes off the bench. According to Tim Griffin of the San Antonio Express-News:
During Ginobili’s absence, Green has emerged as the Spurs’ top wing off the bench. He’s given them outside shooting, a fierce defensive effort and moxie when they’ve needed it. His emergence has been the biggest surprise of the season.
Outside shooting, defense, and moxie. Sounds like just the kinds of things he brought to the Tar Heels, especially during the 2009 national championship run.
With UNC playing three games in six days, Roy Williams gave the team the day off on Wednesday and flew to San Antonio to watch Green and the Spurs take on Houston. Again, Tim Griffin reports:
“All of our guys in the NBA, whether it’s from Kansas or North Carolina, I try to see during the course of the year,” Williams said. “Danny I haven’t seen. He was with Cleveland two years ago and I went up to see him and he played like one minute.
“He’s a little more important here in San Antonio and he’s doing some nice things and Pop is one of my favorite guys in the whole wide world. We played three games in six days and I gave them a day off today so we could come and see Danny.”
Williams said he’s not surprised with the development of Green, who has blossomed as a consistent producer for the Spurs after Manu Ginobili’s injury.
“Danny is one of those of kids who has the ability to play, “Williams said. “But in the NBA you have to find the right spot and be there at the right time and take advantage of it. I think that’s what Danny’s done.
“He’s always had an ability to score. He’s a little sneaky and has the ability to block a shot and get some steals and an offensive rebound for you. He’s a good basketball player who was crucial for us in ’09 when we won the national championship.
“I always thought he had the ability, but I’ve had other guys with the ability who never found the right spot at the right time, nor if they did, they didn’t take advantage of it. Danny has taken advantage of it pretty well.”
It’s great to hear that Green, a fan favorite, is making the most of his opportunity. And, like at UNC when he was known to make a highlight reel or two, Green is continuing the tradition for the Spurs, as evidenced here.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a post about Danny Green without this:
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I’m really pleased to see Danny emerge like this. He didn’t give up and finally got a chance to show the NBA the Danny we knew and loved.
Very nice story about Roy keeping up with, and really caring for, his former players. You really have to like that about him.
Green couldn’t be in a better place with Popovich’s history of player development. The situation with Ginobli was certainly very fortunate for Danny, and has escalated his progress to the point of them likely being an even better team when Manu returns.
On a side note, it was worth it to stay up late last night and watch the Nuggets roll over an admittedly tired Clippers team. Watching them share the ball and get up and down the court reminds me of a certain college team with a similar lineage. And I particularly liked a play in the second half, where Lawson trapped Chris Paul at the sideline in front of the Denver bench, causing Paul to lose the ball out of bounds. That one brought a clapping coach Karl off the bench.
It’s been great watching the new generation of Heels in the NBA, and it looks like there will be much more to come.
I bet many of us here aren’t near as surprised about Green’s emergence as some in San Antonio and the rest of the NBA. Watching DG as a Tarheel in his last year, it always (well…almost always) seemed like he would be successful in the NBA.
hmmm. GINyard…GINobli….starting to see a pattern.
i find myself watching more NBA than i have since Jordan played. definitely more fun for me to see Tar Heels getting in.
I’ve been a big Spurs fan since the days of David Robinson, Sean Elliot, Avery Johnson, and when they had Paul Pressey for a year or two. Green found a good spot in San Antonio, and Poppovich has a great track record of finding guys to fit that other teams haven’t been able to. And while I’m bummed that the big three are getting to the point of collecting Social Security, the Spurs have young guys on the horizon such as Green, Lenoard, and Gary Neal that should keep them competitive.
whatever happened to rashad mccants? i know he played for the timberwolves for a few years and even posted some solid minutes, then he just stopped playing in the nba
It’s great to see several UNC players doing well in the NBA. Very different from their time in college.
Also nice to see George Karl back at work.
^^Didn’t you know that Roy ruined his career?
Seriously, just do a search and you’ll discover the ups and downs of his pro stint, as well as the soap opera of quotes from him and his father (quite a piece of work), his acting aspirations, etc., etc.
Maybe the Sept.-2012 article linked below is an unfair depiction of McCants, and maybe paints in in a more negative light than he deserves, but I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that he’s probably been in a bit of denial about his basketball fortunes.
Maybe he’ll return to the league one day….he was/is a talented player.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/rashad-mccants-is-still-saying-odd-rashad-mccants-y-things?urn=nba,wp8542
i dont see McCants ever getting back to the NBA.
Last night before the Bulls/Knicks game the pregame show was giving Ty a ton of love, and voted him on the all star reserves. 4 of the 5 starters from 09 are contributing in the NBA, and the 5th is player very well in Europe. Add in Ed Davis at TOR and thats is very impressive by Roy.
In regards to McCants, top 5 most wasted talent ever at UNC.
The reason Paulus went back to football was so he could wear a facemask to hide the “imprint” on his face. To this day I’m shocked a charge wasn’t called…..just because.
Thanks for Rashad link Larry. Looks like Rashad has went further off the deep end since I last read about him. If you haven’t already, check out the link from the article to his movie…on second thought…nevermind. Go Heels!
500 lbs. head on a 200 lbs. body
Maybe my favorite Tar Heel ever…. I am very glad to see this….
It makes me wonder about Jawad, Rashaad and Marcus and if they are playing abroad.
keep an eye on Wright in Dallas as well–star is rising…even if he shafted us
If you mean B. Wright, then that is good news. He never implied that he would spend more than one year at UNC. That was part of the deal. We dumped a recruit who ended up at GIT, after Wright decided against Duke. He was amazing his freshman year, except from the line. Unfortunately, for him, he had a body like Henson and needed more time in college, but my understanding is that he had just about the overall best skills test among any recruit ever.
yeah, I was joking–well, sorta. you said it.., he needed more time in college, but fortunately he’s now under the tutelage of one of the very best NBA coaches in Carlisle (imo). it would be interesting to hear his pov on how leaving early might have been a mistake. he could have easily been a journeyman/washout in lesser circumstances. you should check him out if you have a chance.
Ellington is playing more on the most exciting, bad team in the NBA (T-wolves). Glad Adleman isn’t trying to run the triangle with the youngest (and minus Love and Rubio, the dumbest) team in the league.