From Fayetteville online
Celtics' top pick ready to learn in Fayetteville
Gerald Green never imagined his first game as a professional basketball player would occur in Fayetteville.
That was supposed to happen in Boston with one of the National Basketball Association’s most storied franchises, the Celtics, who drafted the 6-foot-8 swing player out of high school in the first round last June.
But there Green was Monday afternoon, in Fayetteville, at the Crown Arena, shooting jumpers and running drills with the Fayetteville Patriots of the NBA Development League.
“I had never heard of Fayetteville, but I’m excited to be here,’’ Green said before his first workout. “I’m just very anxious to play and finally get out on the floor.’’
Green, 19, was assigned to the Patriots on Saturday after spending the first three months and 32 games of Boston’s regular season watching from the sidelines. He’s expected to make his professional debut Sunday as the entire D-League comes to Fayetteville for the second annual Martin Luther King Jr. Showcase at the Crown Coliseum.
He was accompanied to Fayetteville by the Celtics executive director of basketball operations and former NBA star, Danny Ainge, who will remain in town several days to help Green get settled and to do some scouting.
“Gerald is a high priority,’’ Ainge said. “We really think that he’s got a great upside and a great future. We wanted Gerald, at the beginning of the year, to see what the NBA was like, to see the practice sessions, to play against our guys and learn our system.
“Well, he’s had the opportunity to do that now for quite a while. He knows what we’re doing offensively and defensively. He’s been on the bench in the NBA and kind of knows the travel and everything.
“Now, we don’t have a lot of time to practice over the next two months. It’s just the way the NBA is. There are more games than practices. So we just thought it was time to start applying some of the things that he has learned. He hasn’t played in a game since exhibition season, and even then it wasn’t very many minutes. We think this will be a good experience for Gerald.’’
Green is the first player under contract to an NBA team to be assigned to Fayetteville. Each D-League franchise is affiliated with three or more NBA teams for the first time in the minor league’s five-year history. Boston’s regular affiliate, the Florida Flame, already had two other NBA players assigned to its roster and was well-stocked at Green’s position. So the D-League worked it out so Green could come instead to the Patriots, whose normal NBA affiliates are the Charlotte Bobcats, Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks.
But Ainge said the Celtics wouldn’t have entrusted just anyone with the care of a player who they’re investing more than $2 million in. The presence of veteran NBA center Mike Brown as the Patriots coach was a selling point.
“I played against Mike and he set a lot of really good screens against me,’’ Ainge said. “I also had a chance to coach Mike when I was coaching at Phoenix for a short time. So the fact that Mike was coaching here gave me a lot more comfort in having Gerald here.’’
Straight from high school
Green was one of the nation’s top high school prospects a year ago at Gulf Shores Academy in Houston. He averaged 33 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists a game as a senior, and drew comparisons to NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady.
Oklahoma State won a recruiting competition for Green, but those plans changed after an appearance in the McDonald’s High School All-American Game last March. Green scored 24 points in the game and won the slam-dunk competition.
“I remember seeing him in that game,’’ Fayetteville guard Mike King said. “He was pretty impressive.’’
Impressive enough that Green decided he would skip college and declare himself eligible for the NBA draft. Boston made him the 18th overall pick.
Practicing against NBA stars like Paul Pierce and Ricky Davis with the Celtics was a good way to break into the league, Green said.
“They’re some of the better players in the league,’’ Green said. “They taught me how to prepare, how to fight off screens and how to compete harder. They’ve shown me how they do it, and now it’s time for me to do what they taught me. I just want to get some games under my belt, test myself and see where I’m at.’’
Although Green isn’t playing in the NBA, he’ll still be drawing his NBA salary and will receive other perks while in the D-League. Whenever the Patriots fly to a game, his seat will be in first class, and he won’t have to share a room with a teammate.
How much and when he plays, however, will be left up to Brown.
“Mike is coaching this team and he’ll use Gerald how he sees fit,’’ Ainge said. “We expect Mike to coach Gerald and to point out the things he’s doing wrong. We obviously want Gerald to get an opportunity. He’s a good kid. He wants to succeed, but there’s a difference in wanting to and knowing how. That’s why he’s here to play.’’
Brown is anxious to work with Green, and hopes he’ll be an asset for a team that’s struggled to a 4-11 start.
“It’s exciting for the organization, it’s exciting for fans to get a chance to come in and see someone who’s actually on an NBA roster, along with the guys we have who have played in the league,’’ Brown said. “Hopefully, he can help us get something going.’’