Three-time champion Danny Green retires from the NBA

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Three-time NBA champion Danny Green officially hung up his jersey after announcing his retirement from professional basketball.

Green was known as one of the pioneer batches of the modern NBA’s three-and-D breeds, capping off his 15-year career with successful stints in San Antonio, Toronto, and the Lakers, where he won his titles.

The efficient two-way player made his public announcement during an episode of his podcast and followed it up with multiple social media posts.

“I’m officially moving on from the game of basketball, the NBA. It’s been a great run. To me, I’m very proud to be able to walk away from the game. I’m at peace with it,” said Green.

The 37-year-old’s last campaign in the NBA was in the 2023-2024 season, playing two games for the Philadelphia 76ers before getting waived by the franchise following the trade that sent James Harden to the Los Angeles Clippers.

After that trade proposal, no team in the NBA absorbed the shooting guard veteran and remained as a free agent until the end of the season.

Green was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2009 NBA Rookie Draft but failed to earn his role with the team, resulting in his arrival at San Antonio where he would blossom into a lethal three-point assassin under the tutelage of living legend Gregg Popovich.

After getting sent by the Spurs to the NBA G-League a couple of times, Green finally had his full playing season in San Antonio during the 2011 season.

Little did everyone know that Green would shine under the San Antonio system and quickly earned a starting role spot when the Spurs decided to revert Manu Ginobili as their sixth man.

Green slowly improved his shooting and also became a defensive threat with his great anticipation in the passing lanes that tallied him a single steal per game.

As a member of the Spurs, Green had two NBA Finals trips and won a chip, before getting shipped to the Toronto Raptors in the 2018-2019 NBA season.

Green was part of the trade package involving Kawhi Leonard and DeMar DeRozan, but a change in scenery didn’t stop him from chasing success as he won his second title in his first year with the Raptors.

He would continue winning after arriving in Los Angeles, helping LeBron James and Anthony Davis win the 2020 NBA title amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Green’s stopovers included stints with the Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia, and a return to the Cavaliers, the team that drafted him in the big boys’ league.

“My body was letting me know. I was getting little calf strains here and there. But also, when you get older, teams aren’t calling as much. Unfortunately, my services weren’t as sought after as they were when I was younger. It’s been a hell of a ride,” added Green.