There are parts to Green’s game that need work, and the NBA, even under the best coach, is not the ideal place to learn. Bad teams still want to win, coaches know their job depends on the outcome of these games, and can’t afford to let a player develop on the court at the expense of winning.
The place to develop the skills to round out one's game is in college. I firmly believe that had Green gone to college for even one season (he had planned on going to Oklahoma State), he would have been a lottery pick in 2006.
The areas of his game that are now being criticized he likely never had to use once his entire life growing up due to his other abilities. In college is where he would have improved on what he already had, as well as developed the other parts of his game. Since he cannot go back to college to improve, it is on Green himself to spend the off-season doing everything he can to show that teams that gave up on him made a mistake.
The short time I have been able to watch Gerald Green as a professional athlete, I have enjoyed watching him. With the right attitude, perspective, and work ethic, this may wind up being a minor set back in Green’s career. There is no question in my mind that Green has the skills to have a long career in the NBA.
In 2001, the Celtics under Rick Pitino, drafted another super-athletic, yet raw, player in Kedrick Brown. Brown never developed his basketball skills beyond his ability for the athletic play. He played only four years in the NBA, for the Celtics, Cavaliers and 76ers, averaging 3.6 points. He now plays in the D-League.
Some Celtics fans have compared Green to Brown—I didn’t see it then, and don’t now. Even with any deficiency Green’s game might have, he has always been far more advanced than Brown ever was. I just hope I do not get proven wrong, and that Green returns to the league soon, and reaches his full potential.
We'd like to send you the most entertaining Minnesota Timberwolves articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
3 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete