Former Phoenix Suns high-flying wing Gerald Green played 12 seasons in the NBA, suiting up for eight different teams in that time.
Green didn’t keep a permanent home for long during his professional career, as the three seasons and 160 games he played for the Boston Celtics split across a decade marks his longest tenure with any franchise.
Green, however, did spend two seasons in The Valley with the Suns, playing 156 games for Phoenix which included arguably the best season of his pro career.
During the 2013-14 season, the often-injured Green appeared in all 82 games (48 starts). He averaged a career-high 15.8 points to go with 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He also drained a career-best 40% of his 3-point attempts on 6.2 long range looks per game throughout that campaign.
Green became a fan favorite in Phoenix during lean times with his outside sharpshooting mixed with the usual medley of athletic slam dunks.
'We just had a tight-knit team': Gerald Green reflects on his time in Phoenix
In his own words, Green let it be known that he enjoyed his time with Phoenix as much as the fans enjoyed watching his windmill slams. In a recent appearance with YouTuber and streamer N3on, Green was asked what his favorite team that he played on was.
Green, a Houston native who played for the Rockets could only give a wry smile in return, to which N3on said, “You’re gonna say the Rockets because you’re from here, bro.”
N3on, whose real name is Rangesh Mutama, resides in Houston and was wearing a Rockets jersey as he asked the question. So, he probably should have known better before the question was even asked.
“Other than the Rockets,” N3on clarified.
“You know what? I’ll give you an honest answer,” Green said. “Other than the Rockets because that’s the obvious answer, but Phoenix, bro.”
Cut to Suns fans nodding in agreement.
“What did you like about the Suns so much?” N3on asked as a followup.
“The Suns, bro, we just had a tight-knit team,” Green said. “We were so close, like still to this day. Like, Isaiah Thomas, shoutout to Isaiah Thomas, man. We still tight.”
Green went on to shout out the Morris twins — Markieff and Marcus, who both spent time with the Suns — as well as fellow NBA journeyman PJ Tucker and University of Kentucky products Eric Bledsoe and Archie Goodwin.
That 2013-14 squad, led by Most Improved Player award winner Goran Dragic and coached by Jeff Hornacek finished 48-34 and still missed the playoffs in the loaded Western Conference. It remains one of the more underrated and fun Suns rosters in franchise history who embraced their lane as the plucky underdog.
Green noted that he’s been on a lot of teams throughout his NBA career, and that there aren’t a lot of them where he’s still in contact with ex teammates. But that’s not the case with regard to the Suns teams he played for, as Green said he still talks with those teammates to this day.
“That’s one of my favorite teams,” Green said of his Suns days.
It’s a fun look behind the curtain on a Suns team that probably isn’t at the forefront of most fans’ favorite squads. That being said, it's interesting that Green notes how much team chemistry they had.
An NBA2K legend and one of the best dunkers to ever lace up the sneakers in the NBA, Green will no doubt earn brownie points with the fan base for shouting out his Suns days.