Gerald Green

At 38 years old, Gerald Green has this physical status:

Gerald Green (born January 26, 1986) is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 18th overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft.

Known for his dunking skill, he has performed well in many slam dunk competitions, having won the 2005 McDonald's All-American Slam Dunk Contest and the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, while finishing as the runner-up in the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Early life

Green was born in Houston, Texas. When he was in the 6th grade, he was involved in an accident that left a significant portion of his right ring finger cut off. He was wearing a ring on his right ring finger when he attempted a dunk on a makeshift basketball hoop. The ring caught onto a nail on the goal and his finger was ripped, with amputation being the only option.

Personal life

Green's second cousin is Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Danny Green. He also has a younger brother, Garlon, who is also a professional basketball player for CSM Oradea in Romania.[1] He formerly played for TCU before going to play in Europe.

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High school career

Green did not play high school basketball until his sophomore year at J. Frank Dobie High School, but he did not participate in junior varsity. He made the varsity squad in junior year but his participation was cut short due to academic difficulties.

Green transferred to Gulf Shores Academy in Houston, where he resurrects his junior year. He averaged 33 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 blocked shots per game during his senior season at Gulf Shores. In 2005 McDonald's All-American Game, which features two squads made up of the best high school basketball players in the United States, he was named an All-American and scored 24 points. Green also won the McDonald's All-American Slam Dunk Contest that year, defeating future Duke player Josh McRoberts.

Green, who was touted as the No. 1 in Rivals.com, was considered a five-star recruiter. In 2005, the country's top player was named No. 1.

Green had intended to attend Oklahoma State University but later decided to enter the NBA draft after graduation. He used an agent, effectively making himself ineligible to participate in NCAA athletics.

Professional career

Green was expected to be one of the best players in the 2005 NBA draft by several analysts, but the Celtics picked him with the 18th pick. His demise can be attributed to his decision not to schedule individual workouts for the teams with the top six picks prior to the draft.

Green was one of the few players to walk straight from high school as a result of the collective bargaining agreement between NBA owners and the National Basketball Players Association, which now requires American players who enter the draft to be at least one year older than their high school class and reach age 19 by December 31 of the calendar year.

Green averaged 8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game for the Celtics in the 2005 Las Vegas Summer League during the preseason.

Green was signed by the Celtics on the Fayetteville Patriots of the NBA D-League after limited playing time during the first half of the season. On February 3, he was recalled and activated to an NBA roster position. On February 16, he was reassigned to the NBDL, to the Florida Flames. He was recalled and activated again on February 21, and saw his first big NBA game action in 23 minutes.

During these games, he appeared in 32 games and averaged 11.8 minutes, 5.2 points, and 1.2 rebounds. In two games against the Toronto Raptors, Green left marks on the league, including a shot clock beating half court three against Indiana and two SportsCenter top play dunks in the closing seconds.

Green aimed to develop all facets of his game in order to get playing time over the offseason. He had shown glimpses of his ability at the end of the 2005–06 season, but the 2006–07 season started slowly, with captain Paul Pierce having a limited role and playing time behind him and swingman Wally Szczerbiak. His playing time increased as a result of injuries to Szczerbiak and Pierce, but he was unable to nail down a starting position. Green started his first game against the Philadelphia 76ers early in December, but he later lost his position to a returning Szczerbiak. Green finished the 2006–07 season with 10.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game.

Green dominated the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest on February 17, 2007, defeating Nate Robinson, Tyrus Thomas, and Dwight Howard.

Green's season had been going well. Green led the Dallas Mavericks to the loss of their 5th season on March 16, 2007, scoring a career-high 25 points in a Celtics loss to the Dallas Mavericks on March 16, 2007, and 4–5 3FG) at Atlanta on April 10, 2007.

Green was officially traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Garnett on July 31, 2007.

Green found himself on the bench with a number of players at the same level in Minnesota. Green's agent pleaded with the Timberwolves to sell his client in early January 2008.

Green launched the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest with a dunk "The Birthday Cake" in which he blew out a birthday candle on a cupcake set on the back of the rim while dunking. He followed that up with an alley-oop two-handed windmill. His first dunk of the second round was an alley-oop from behind the basket, which he placed between his legs before dunking. His last dunk of the night was a one-handed slam that he performed after taking off his shoes. Howard finished second behind Dwight Howard after getting seventy-eight percent of the votes cast by supporters via text message.

Green was traded to his hometown team, the Houston Rockets, for Kirk Snyder, a 2010 second-round draft pick and cash considerations on February 21, 2008. He was released by the Rockets on March 8 and became an unrestricted free agent in July.

Green signed with the Dallas Mavericks on July 1, 2008. "We have a verbal deal with Dallas for a one-year deal, we talked to a number of clubs, and there is more money to be earned," Bryant told Fox 26 Sports, "but this is the best situation for Gerald at this time in his career."

Green wasn't meant to play in the summer league, but rather go to hear the plays and get a feel of the Mavericks organization early and not let his chance pass away. He shot from the field at an underwhelming 13.3 ppg and 3.8 rpg in the Vegas Summer League. On a good note, he was 43 percent from above the arc. The Mavericks and Green participated in the Rocky Mountain Revue, a summer league held in Salt Lake City, Utah, following the Vegas Summer League. Green averaged 17.7 ppg, 1.8 apg, 1 spg,.5 bpg, and a respectable 2.2 topg, with a 3.2 bpg, apg, 1.05 bpg, and a respectable 2.2 topg. Green shot a much more impressive 45% this time around, with going 12 for 26 from behind the three point line (46%), and 28-31 from the free throw line (90%). His overall success earned him All-Revue Team awards.

In December 2009, Green was signed to PBC Lokomotiv Kuban of Russia. In June 2010, the Lokomotiv Kuban forkept him out.

Green was selected to the Los Angeles Lakers roster for the 2010 NBA Summer League. He joined BC Krasnye Krylya, also a Russian team, after the Summer League.

Green moved to China in October 2011 after signing a one-year deal with the Foshan Drallion. Foshan announced Green on December 2, 2011.

Green signed with the Los Angeles Lakers on December 13, 2011 as a chance to return to the NBA. Green was waived by the Lakers on December 22, just days before the shortened regular season started, but only days before the Lakers' season ended.

Green joined the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League on December 28, 2011. He appeared in the NBA D-League All-Star Game and was named the Most Valuable Player in the NBA. He averaged 19.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game over the season. Against the Erie BayHawks, he scored a season-high of 35 points.

On February 27, 2012, the New Jersey Nets agreed to a 10-day contract. On March 8, 2012, he was granted a second 10-day contract. On March 10, 2012, his dunk against the Houston Rockets was described as "one of the dirtiest in-game windmill alley-oops in NBA history." He was signed for the remainder of the season on March 18, 2012. In 31 games played, he averaged 12.9 points, 1.1 assists, and 3.5 rebounds.

Green signed with the Indiana Pacers on July 12, 2012. Green appeared in his third NBA Slam Dunk Contest during the 2013 All-Star weekend.

Green was traded to the Phoenix Suns alongside Miles Plumlee and a potential first-round pick for Luis Scola on July 27, 2013. Goran Dragi and Eric Bledsoe were injured in November 2013 when the Suns' guards were wounded during their respective weeks. Since Bledsoe suffered a major knee injury in January, February, and March 2014, he saw more time with the Suns. Green will dominate some games as the team's top scorer, including an 112–107 victory over the Denver Nuggets, in which he scored 8 of the team's 13 points in overtime.

In a 128-122 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 6, 2014, Green scored a new career-high 41 points, with a career-high 8 made three-pointers. Green returned to action on March 12, 2014, when Eric Bledsoe returned to action. Green finished the season with new career highs in points per game and free-throw percentages. As a result, he came in fourth place in the NBA Most Improved Player Award behind Anthony Davis, Lance Stephenson, and Green's teammate Goran Dragi.

In a 104-107 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on April 8, 2015, Green scored a season-high 30 points on 10-of-19 shooting.

Green signed with the Miami Heat on July 9, 2015. In a 104–94 victory, he made his Heat debut against the Charlotte Hornets on October 28, scoring 19 points off the bench. While starting in place of the injured Luol Deng, the Heat beat the New York Knicks 97-78 on November 27, he scored a season-high 25 points. He surpassed that figure on April 1, 2016, scoring 30 points in place of the injured Dwyane Wade, leading the Heat against the Sacramento Kings 112–106.

Green signed with the Boston Celtics on July 27, 2016, making him return to the franchise for the second time. In a 113-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on December 27, 2016, he scored a season-high 19 points. Green had a career-high 18 points in Game 4 of the Chicago Bulls' first-round playoff series against the Chicago Bulls on April 23, 2017, one of which were tallied before halftime.

Green signed with the Milwaukee Bucks on September 24, 2017. After playing in four preseason games, he was suspended on October 14.

Greenback with the Houston Rockets for a second time on December 28, 2017. In a 116-98 victory over the Orlando Magic, he scored a season-high 27 points on January 3, 2018. In a 124–114 loss to the Golden State Warriors, Green came off the bench to score 29 points and tie a career record with eight 3-pointers. After making seven or more 3-pointers in consecutive games against Orlando, he became the first franchise player to make seven or more 3-pointers in consecutive games. Green snatch a victory over the Phoenix Suns on March 30, when he hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer.

Green re-signed with the Houston Rockets on July 10, 2018.

Green re-signed with the Houston Rockets on July 22, 2019. Green had undergone surgery to repair a fractured bone in his left foot and would be out for about six months, according to the Rockets on October 28.

The Rockets traded Green to the Denver Nuggets in a four-team trade on February 5, 2020, and the Nuggets waived Green two days later. Green re-signed with the Houston Rockets on December 1, 2020, promising a one-year non-guaranteed contract. The Rockets were banned from playing Green on December 19, 1919.

Green came out of retirement and signed with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on January 8, 2022, averaging 18 points and 5.1 rebounds.

Coaching career

Green resigned on October 22, 2021, and joined the Houston Rockets coaching staff as a player growth coach.

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