TORONTO – It took 1,030 days, but Danny Green finally has his ring.
The Philadelphia 76ers forward, who was a key member of the Toronto Raptors’ exciting championship run in 2019, received his massive diamond-encrusted ring from former teammates Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam before Thursday’s game at the Scotiabank Arena.
Green was treated to a video tribute and a warm standing ovation, clapping a hand to his heart in thanks.
“I always called him a glue guy for that team, which is a big deal,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said, wrapping Green in a hug. “A veteran who won a lot, he was a great professional, he was available. . . I don’t think he felt great during the season, but he always wanted to go out and play, he loved to play. And he brought a lot of winning qualities to the team.”
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The three-point specialist had not received his ring until Thursday due to a confluence of factors.
Since his season as a Raptor, when he started in 80 games and averaged 10.3 points and shot a career-best 45.5 percent from 3-point range, Green has played on three teams, been traded twice and even won another championship. with Los Angeles Lakers 2020.
Green would have originally received his ring when the Lakers visited on March 24, 2020, but the league was shut down two weeks earlier due to COVID-19.
Last season, the Raptors were forced to move to Tampa, Fla., for their home games, due to the capacity of COVID-19 and border restrictions, and Green said on his podcast that it didn’t feel right to host him anywhere. somewhere other than the Scotiabank Arena.
Thursday was Philly’s second trip to Toronto this season, but Green missed the first on Dec. 28 because he was under COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Also, he and the Raptors agreed to push it back to April 7 anyway, as Toronto was experiencing a high number of COVID cases, so a limited number of fans were allowed into Scotiabank.
While waiting to receive it on Thursday, the nurse said, “I think it’s more fun.”
Sixers coach Doc Rivers said Green has made a career as a role player, “but a star at that.”
“Winning is not luck, Danny has been in the right places because he was needed there,” Rivers said. “He’s one of the reasons we loved him and he’s been great for us too.”
Green and the Sixers could make another trip north soon; Toronto and Philadelphia could meet in the first round of the playoffs.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on April 7, 2022.
© 2022 The Canadian Press
Reference-globalnews.ca