In the NBA, you win with stars, because it is perhaps the league with the most enhancement of differential talent in the world of sport, but also with the soldiers of a team. Those who are there in good times and bad, those who give cohesion and all-round ability. There are many in this category, although one who is at the top of the category is the legendary Jeff Green (38 years old). An illustrious veteran who makes history year after year.
Jeff Green has been fighting and battling for more than a decade and a half. He reached a reward for his dedication with the 2023 ring with the Denver Nuggets and now gives a veteran touch to those talented Houston Rockets. Legitimate candidates for the Western Conference Playoffs after starting with five wins and three losses after dying on the shore of last season. And Green continues to transcend.
With the start of the new NBA season, Green has put his name even higher. He became the player with the most teammates in history. He has shared a locker room with 263 players! He breaks the records of Vince Carter (261), Trevor Ariza (259), Garrett Temple (250) and Javale McGee (245). They come at a rate of 15 seasons, and he went through 11 (or 12, depending on how you look at it) franchises: Sonics/Thunder, Celtics, Grizzlies, Magic, Cavs, Wizards, Jazz, Rockets (two stages), Nets and Nuggets. He averages 15.5 teammates per season, another wild statistic.
Players with the most teammates
- Jeff Green: 263
- Vince Carter: 261
- Trevor Ariza: 259
- Garrett Temple: 250
- Javale McGee: 245
An incredible story
Green, a player with an imperishable physique, impressive on both sides of the court and a leader in the mental department, would not be the same without a story that accompanies him wherever he goes. And it is one of those that finds no answer because it is explained by a scar on his chest. In the heart. It is what makes him unique and his gigantic mark makes your hair stand on end.
Because it was 2012 when the Boston Celtics decided not to count on his services after a chilling medical report. Green suffered from an aortic aneurysm, a localised dilation that causes weakness in the wall of the aorta. A very dangerous condition, with dramatic consequences such as possible internal bleeding if not treated in time. The player had to step away from basketball and underwent surgery.
That’s where his life changed. He was fighting for his life, it was no longer about playing basketball. And after a one-hour open-heart surgery, Green came out of it. His heart stopped for an hour, but there was reborn a deeply admired player. Because he recovered and did not give up. Even though few believed in him. “Many GMs told me I wouldn’t last five more years like that. I’m proud that they told me that,” he confessed. Because he came back and went on to become a champion 11 years later.
A veteran to be framed, a team player and an NBA soldier. Now with the Rockets, he is a piece that gives cohesion although he may play fewer minutes than he deserves. “If the scar is still there, it means I’m still alive,” Green said on numerous occasions.