On Feb. 2 in Phoenix, Jeff Green earned his Grit ‘N’ Grind stripes and silenced any doubters of his acquisition in a three-team trade with the Boston Celtics and New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 12. In a nearly seamless transition, Green has provided a timely boost to a Memphis roster that has embraced its new teammate with open arms.
With the score at 101-94 in Phoenix’s advantage with 1:49 remaining in the final period, the Grizzlies never-quit attitude reared its head as it has many times this season. Memphis roared back in the remaining seconds of the matchup and earned the chance to win the game after blanking the Suns on the offensive end several times over. The score now at 101-99 Phoenix with 21.9 seconds remaining, the Grizzlies put the ball in the hands of Mike Conley, who has proven more than enough times this season that he is engrained with the “clutch gene”. In a rare occasion, Conley misfired from deep and the rest was history. Green ripped down the offensive rebound, made the putback shot and was fouled on the way up by Suns guard Eric Bledsoe. Green sank the following free throw and sealed the victory for the road team 102-101. As Tony Allen yanked on Green’s jersey in celebration, it truly felt as the forward was meant to be a part of the magical ride that the 2014-15 season has shaped up to be.
Just as Green did not let up on the final play of that game, Green refused to quit when he received the life-changing news that he would need heart surgery to have a chance to continue his basketball career. A week after agreeing to a one-year, nine-million dollar deal with the Boston Celtics during the 2011-12 season, doctors discovered an abnormality described as an aortic aneurysm while administering a routine stress test. No strangers to losing promising young players to tragic circumstances (Len Bias, Reggie Lewis), the Celtics took immediate precaution and shut Green down for the remainder of the season.
In late-January, just a few weeks after being acquired by the Grizzlies, Green toured Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital led by hospital CEO Meri Armour and former Le Bonheur heart patient Matthew McCarter. Enamored by his 6’9” stature, McCarter and Green shared a life experience that not many could say they have been through. In a special moment, McCarter and the six-year veteran compared their scars from their respective surgeries. Like warriors showing off battle wounds, the pair were proud to display what they had endured. Green described the long process of post-surgery recovery, including small steps of success such as walking a few blocks without getting winded.
Dr. Christopher Knott-Craig, Director of the Heart Institute and Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, described why sports are so much more than just a game.
The doctor described how the children seeing Green, what he had endured and who he became – a healthy and successful athlete – was an inspiration to all. Green described to Dr. Knott-Craig how he would be forever grateful to Dr. Lars Svensson, the cardiovascular surgeon at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic who saved his career.
With a deeper appreciation and understanding for the delicacy of life, Green embraced the change and pushed forward to keep his dream of playing professional basketball alive. Green also recognized the importance he plays as an inspiration to anyone going through a similar life-changing ordeal.
To say Green has been a welcome addition to the Grizzlies roster would be an understatement. Since joining the club, Memphis has won 13 of their last 16 games (as of Feb. 21) and has brought an extra element of offense that opposing teams have to account for – making the Grizzlies that much more of a threat in the Western Conference. Included in that 13-3 (.813) record, was a franchise-tying eight-game winning streak.
Green has fit in almost seamlessly with his Grizzlies teammates since making FedExForum his new home and understands the importance of not rocking an already successful boat.
Courtney Lee was particularly excited to have Green join Memphis as the pair had previously played together on the Boston Celtics from 2012-2014. In an effort to describe how Green would fit-in with the widely-known fun-loving Grizzlies, Lee pointed out an attribute about the 28 year-old forward that many may not be aware of.
With the team’s recent play, Green has quickly danced his way into the hearts of his teammates and fans alike. Once a player whose career was in jeopardy of ending far too early to now a possible final piece to a Grizzlies club that is reaching new and exciting franchise-heights.