Three championships with three different teams! That’s the kind of resume that puts Danny Green in the rare company of just three other players in the history of the NBA. But when he talks about winning that 2020 title with the Los Angeles Lakers, it wasn’t the celebration you’d expect, but a relief.
What Made Danny Green’s 2020 Lakers Championship So Different?
Green, the three-time NBA champion, recently appeared on the “Legends of Sports” podcast to discuss the final championship of his career. He won the 2020 NBA title alongside LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a season dominated by pandemic troubles.
Green has proved himself, winning championships in 2014 with the Spurs, 2019 with the Raptors, and his final championship in 2020 with the Lakers.
The 2020 season was unlike anything the NBA had ever experienced. Despite the finals being scheduled in June, like they always do in the NBA, the seven-game series against the Miami Heat was pushed back to September and October, being played behind closed doors due to the spread of COVID-19.
“We enjoyed the time, but it was also short-lived because the next season circled right around the next six weeks. We won in October, and then early December was like, All right, we’ve got to get back to work because we’ve got to get this thing rolling by Christmas,” Green explained.
How Did the NBA Shutdown Impact Green’s Preparation?
When the league first shut down, Green didn’t expect the hiatus to last as long as it did. The NBA was closed for four months, creating an unprecedented situation for players trying to stay in shape.
“I thought when the league shut down, we would have been back sooner, so when we took the hiatus, I was still working out fairly heavy early on, I was like, ‘There’s no way this lasts this long,’” Green revealed during the podcast.
Adding to the challenges, Green was one of the two Lakers players who caught the virus during the last game against the Brooklyn Nets. The team issued an official statement confirming this after four Nets players were confirmed positive. However, Green also revealed that he was perfectly fine despite this setback.
Danny Green connects from distance to move up to 12th on the #NBAFinals all-time 3PM list!#WeTheNorth 9#StrengthInNumbers 9
: ABC : Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/gGfaOhqbhS
— NBA (@NBA) May 31, 2019
The unique circumstances of the bubble championship created a different emotional response when the Lakers finally won. “It was more relief than celebrating it. Finally, we’re done, and we can get out of here. I couldn’t imagine losing and having to go that far, be there for that long. I’d be highly upset. It was more of a relief winning, it was like, Damn, we get to go home finally,” Green explained.
The Lakers ultimately beat the Eastern Conference champions, the Miami Heat, following a standout performance from Lakers icon James, who was named Finals MVP. They won the series 4-2 and picked up their 17th title.
Why Did Green’s Career End After the Championship?
The 2020 championship would be the final one of Green’s career. He retired four years later after being waived by the Philadelphia 76ers. He finished his career averaging 8.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 832 games and was ninth in postseason 3-pointers with 315.
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Green’s body began sending him signals that it was time to step away from the game. “My body was letting me know. I was getting little calf strains here and there,” Green said. “But also, teams aren’t calling as much when you get older. Unfortunately, my services weren’t as sought after when I was younger. It’s been a hell of a ride.”
While Danny Green may not have had the flashiest career, his record as a three-point shooter ranked him amongst the best in NBA history. This showcases what a player in the league can do even if they aren’t a first-round Draft Pick, leaving behind a legacy that spans three championship teams.
