PHOENIX — Some 82 minutes before tipoff in the desert, Rockets forward Jeff Green and Suns forward Kevin Durant were warming up on either side of PHX Arena.
The two veterans, who share a close bond from their time together in Seattle, Oklahoma City and Brooklyn, are at different stages of their careers — Durant still among the NBA’s elite and Green a role player. Despite a left ankle sprain that has now sidelined Durant, the longevity of their careers is to be celebrated.
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“It’s really impressive,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I’ve never coached or been around (Green) on a day-to-day basis, tried to go after (him) multiple times. But I’m sure the work ethic, coming to the gym, the amount of time put in before and after practice, eating — to play and be a part of an NBA team for as long as (he) has, you have to do everything.”
After nearly two decades in the NBA, Green — or “Uncle Jeff” as he’s fondly known — has accepted a few things.
He’s embraced the elder statesman title with the same grace as those who have come before him. Green’s smile widens when he hears the word “uncle” before the entire question is asked. He wears it as a badge of honor.
And arguably more importantly, he’s become an empath. At home, Green’s stall is closest to the locker room entrance — and he’s typically the first one seated after games — meaning the easiest path to gauging the emotional temperature of the room is through his lens. After wins, Green’s mood is light and cheerful, teasing the rookies, his contemporaries and even media members. When the Rockets lose, Green retreats to a calmer, softer spirit, ready to wipe the slate clean and prepare for the next day’s challenges.
At age 38, Green has accomplished a great deal in basketball. He’s been an All-American. He’s been a top-10 pick. He’s been a focal point of an offense. He’s won a championship. His accolades are as long as the miles after 17 NBA seasons.
But somehow, he’s not finished yet. When Green arrived in Houston two years ago — his second stint with the organization — he had unfinished business. His prior relationship with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka played a part in his decision to return, but Green felt he still had work to do.
“It’s been big from day one,” Udoka said. “Coming right off a championship in Denver and a guy I coached before in Brooklyn, so I knew him. But a much different role — much more of an experienced, veteran, vocal leader. He didn’t have to speak up much with Kyrie (Irving), KD and James (Harden). But the professionalism, the everyday approach he brings has rubbed off on our young fellas.”
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On Wednesday, the Rockets earned their 50th win of the season in a 143-105 victory over the Utah Jazz — clinching a Western Conference playoff berth for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Green was with Houston that postseason in the Orlando bubble, averaging 11.8 points per game in just under 30 minutes a night.
With the playoffs less than three weeks away, The Athletic briefly caught up with Green about his two stints with Houston, his relationship with Udoka, his love for his current team and more.
Jeff, it’s been six years since the Rockets went to the playoffs, a team you also happened to be on. Do you ever have time to reflect on how this all came together, if you would call it fate?
We just trusted the process. We can’t really look back into the past, you have to look where you’re going. And I think with the growth of this young team that we have, it shows a lot of progress. It shows a lot of maturity and how we flipped the switch, from how things were to how they are now. I think that’s a good sign in itself.
It was a very different time back then, different roster makeup from the last time you made the playoffs with this team. But in terms of competitive spirit, can you draw any similarities?
I mean, you just have a group of competitive guys. I think that’s a similarity right there. But that’s the makeup of our coach. We took on his attributes from how he played the game, and with that toughness, we got to where we’re at.
Jeff Green and James Harden the last time the Rockets were in the playoffs in 2019-20. (Kim Klement-Pool / Getty Images)
Before coming back to Houston, after speaking to Ime, what was the message and why did you choose to play here? You had just won a championship and could have gone anywhere. Why Houston?
Well, after you get to the mountaintop, you look for certain challenges. And I think with where I’m at in my career, I think the challenge now is helping out the young guys be professionals. Help them do some things in their career they’ve never done. For example, getting to the playoffs in our second year. Pushing guys to be better than they were before — Alpi (Alperen Şengün) an All-Star, Jalen (Green) who should have been an All-Star. That’s where I’m at in my career and the goals and challenges I wanted to …
At this point, Udoka interrupts the interview.
“How long are y’all gonna be man,” Udoka says with a smile.
“I’m done, I’m ready!” Green responds.
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Do you find yourself embracing the “Uncle Jeff” role?
100 percent.
How has that transition been for you overall?
I love it. When I was young, I had those types of vets in Kurt Thomas, Kevin Garnett that instilled that confidence and knowledge in me. It was all to better my game and my career. It’s all a cycle. Now I’m at the point where it’s my turn to showcase that knowledge and help the young guys be professionals.
It’s evident how close you are with Steven Adams and Jock Landale. (Green made Landale switch lockers to be next to him.) What’s the process of building that camaraderie? Is it instant or does it come over time?
It comes over time. But also when you have competitive guys in an atmosphere where the competitive nature is at an all-time high, you kind of flock together. We use that to help each other. We all see the game differently, so it’s a manner of just helping guys out.
As the playoffs get closer, have you seen these guys reach a different mental level? Have you seen any changes that come with that competitiveness?
I wouldn’t say that. I think it’s just about realizing what we have and taking advantage of the opportunities that we have. Obviously, you don’t know what it is until you get there. And they haven’t been there yet, so they don’t understand what it means to flip the switch to playoff basketball. But we just tell them to go out there and play their game. Continue to play aggressive and hard.
Having been around this team for the past two years, what makes them special?
Everybody sacrifices for the betterment of the team. And I think that’s what’s special. When you have young guys, it’s hard to have them buy in because everybody wants to make a name for themselves. But this young, talented group that we have here, they all sacrifice different parts of their games to form a better team. And it’s paying off, we’re in the playoffs, we’re second in the Western Conference. That’s the maturity level of the young guys we have.
(Top photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
