HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Jeff Green was asked the questions you'd expect a 17-year vet joining a young team would get at a media session before the start of a new season.
What intangibles are you hoping to impart on your younger teammates?
Can you compare a previous teammate to one of your new teammates?
Did you ever think you'd get to 17 years in the NBA?
What excites you about your new team?
Then came the fifth question.
"You talked about embracing a leadership role with a young team," the question started. "But when you're your age, and there's a team like…"
At which point Green interrupted.
"My age? Geez," he jokingly interjected.
Green turned 37 in August, and most of his Rockets teammates were scribbling in coloring books while watching Sesame Street and drinking juice boxes when he made his NBA debut with a team that no longer exists 16 years ago.
"We're still a young team, besides Jeff Green," Rockets center Alperen Sengun said. "I'm calling him Uncle Jeff."
Fresh off winning a championship in Denver, the Rockets signed Uncle Jeff to a two year, $16 million contract over the summer, which takes him from a team that won 69 games, including playoffs, last season to a team that has won just 59 the last three seasons combined.
"This being my 17th year, been in every type of situation possible," Green said. Winning the championship last year, going into the playoffs multiple years, I think, the experience itself and teaching these young guys on what it takes to be a true professional, the winning aspect, what it takes, the everyday grind, them seeing it first and foremost, I think it will help them in the long run."
Green's introduction to the NBA in 2007 almost mirrors the situation he joined in July. Drafted fifth overall out of Georgetown, Green's Seattle team won 20 games with him and fellow rookie Kevin Durant as the Sonics' leading scorer. They won 23 games in Oklahoma City the next year after drafting Russell Westbrook, which led to a 27-win improvement with a playoff appearance following the selection of James Harden.
"At a certain point, you get tired of losing. You get tired of the headlines of being a loser, being called a loser. When you lose games that's what you are, and we wanted to change that narrative, and we did, and it came through hard work."
It's highly unlikely the Rockets have three future MVPs in their locker room right now, but Green still sees similarities between those old Thunder teams and this Rockets squad.
"You can see the hunger in how they go about their business, the young guys. Every day they come in ready to work, and they come in and they work hard, and you can tell that they're tired of that narrative that's been floating around about the way they started off their career in the NBA."
Another reason Green is optimistic the Rockets can reach their potential is now head coach Ime Udoka, who he had as an assistant two seasons ago in Brooklyn.
"I think he's going to give those young guys some good structure, some discipline, and he's going to help them."
