BOSTON — Jeff Green made his return to TD Garden on Wednesday, playing on the famed parquet for the first time since the Celtics traded him away two months ago.
Green is in a much better situation now in Memphis, where his Grizzlies are ranked second in the Western Conference while his former teammates scratch and claw for the eighth seed in the East. The forward hasn’t entirely severed ties with Boston, however, as he still stays in contact with several current Celtics — guard Avery Bradley, in particular.
“I haven’t been able to watch much, not talking about basketball, me and Avery are like brothers,” Green said before Wednesday’s game. “That’s my guy. I talk to him almost every other day since I’ve been gone. I’ve been talking to Gerald (Wallace) on the phone, text, those two.
“I talked to Jared (Sullinger) a couple times. I created some bonds here, some friendships that last a lifetime. I always ask how they’re doing, how they’ve been playing and just making sure they’re good.”
Green spent parts of four seasons in Boston before being shipped to Memphis in January. Bradley was a rookie when the Celtics originally acquired Green and said before the game that it would be difficult to line up opposite his old mate. He did so against another Celtic-turned-Grizzly, Courtney Lee, earlier this season.
“He’s a brother to me for sure,” Bradley said. “Not only him, but Courtney Lee, as well. It’s definitely going to hard playing against both of them. It was hard playing against Courtney earlier this year, so I know it’s going to be hard playing against Jeff.”
Thumbnail photo via Lynne Sladky/Associated Press
