WALTHAM, Mass. — Jeff Green remembers a time, not so long ago, when he was a young player still trying to learn the ropes of the NBA, looking up to veterans like Kevin Garnett for guidance.
Now, as he enters his seventh season, the Boston Celtics forward finds himself in the role of wise elder.
“I was the one who was looking up to KG,” Green said Wednesday at Celtics training camp. “Now, I’m in this position on this team, trying to set a standard for what we’re trying to do this year.”
Green’s most attentive pupil thus far has been rookie swingman James Young, a first-round draft pick (No. 17 overall) who at 19 years old is the youngest player on the Celtics’ roster. Young said Tuesday that he’s been watching the veteran’s every move on the court, and Green has been happy to lend a hand.
“I’m just trying to help him along the way,” Green said. “He’s a talented young kid, so I’m just trying to help his learning experience rather quick. The faster he learns, the better we’ll be. He’s just a young pup trying to learn his way, so I’m there to help him.”
Green, who favors a lead-by-example approach to mentorship, said it’s often difficult for first-year players to grasp the pace and style of the NBA game. This is especially true for someone like Young, whose system at the University of Kentucky — John Calipari’s dribble drive motion offense — is different from the one he’ll be playing under in Boston.
Regardless of game plan, though, Green’s message to Young is simple: Play your game, and the game will come to you.
“I think, as a rookie, you’re just trying to show people what you can do,” Green said. “Sometimes, you can step out of your norm and mess yourself up. I think that’s the hard part: showing people what you can do. But I’ve seen James play; I know what he can do. He doesn’t have to impress anybody. He got drafted high for a reason.”
Photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
