After being signed by the Houston Rockets over a month ago, Gerald Green has continued to provide a major boost to his hometown squad.
Just two and a half months ago, Gerald Green was shooting around in his driveway just to stay fresh, after receiving some dire news shortly before the start of the 2017-18 regular season.
The 32-year-old swingman, who had played for eight different franchises in his 10-year career, was cut by the Milwaukee Bucks on the final day of training camp. The former first round pick in the 2005 NBA Draft could not help but wonder if he would ever get another chance to play in the league someday.
"“No team wanted me,” Green told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “No overseas team. Not even a D-League team.”"
Now, the former Slam Dunk champion has found himself a nice living at home, as the once unemployed journeyman is currently taking full advantage of his latest opportunity with the Houston Rockets. He has emerged from the shadows, to put together one of his finest seasons in recent memory.
Through 17 games, Green has managed to score in bunches against opposing teams, averaging 13.8 points to go alongside of 3.1 rebounds per game — all the while managing to play in limited spurts of game time.
The Houston native — who fell out of the rotation late last month, has been pressed back into action to serve as Clutch City’s quasi-Sixth Man over the last five outings, posting 14.2 points per game with a true shooting percentage of 58.5 percent in the wake of Trevor Ariza‘s hamstring injury.
"“Adding Gerald is a major piece to what we’re doing,” Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.“He’ll get you 10 points in a rush. That’s good. He’s playing with a lot of energy. He’s feeling more comfortable all the time, I love him. His team defense is good. Individually, sometimes they bump him off….He’s been doing a good job.”"
While Green’s official role on a full-strength Rockets squad still remains up in limbo, the veteran has been arguably one of Houston’s most dynamic players to watch over the last month and a half, as the former high-flying act has found a way to shine in games where he has received extended minutes.
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Since joining the team in late December, Green has scored in double figures in 14 out of his first 17 contests with the Rockets, and shot almost 40 percent from beyond the arc.
This led many to wonder whether or not Green should earn more floor time with the Rockets this coming postseason. His ability to shoot combined with his high-energy presence on both ends of the floor has proven to be beneficial to a Houston team that has been without the services of Ariza, Chris Paul, Luc Mbah a Moute, James Harden and Eric Gordon for stretches of the regular season. Green most certainly appears to be up for the challenge.
"“I’m blessed to have this opportunity. I have a chance…to win a ring,” Green told reporters last week.“Whatever role that I have on this team, I’m more than honored to have. Right now, I know my number is getting ready to be called. I’ve been in the gym working. It’s not like I’m fresh off the couch like I was, so I think I should be in position to help this team win.”"
Next: 2017-18 Week 17 NBA Power Rankings
Green and the Rockets will seek to garner their seventh win in their last eight games as they get ready to face Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets Friday night at the Toyota Center.