Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Former Houston Rockets guard and two-time NBA champion Vernon Maxwell called current Rockets forward Jeff Green his inspiration on social media.
Maxwell shouted out Green for playing in the NBA despite his age (Green is 37), and he even called for Houston to give him a 10-day deal so he can get back in the NBA.
Maxwell last played during the 2000-01 season for the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks. The two-time champion is now 58 years old, but he had an impressive NBA career spanning from the 1988-89 season through the 2000-01 campaign.
Green, who won a title with the Denver Nuggets last season, signed with Houston in free agency this past offseason.
The veteran forward came up huge against his former team on Sunday, scoring 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field to help the Rockets beat Denver. Green also added four rebounds, one steal and one block in the win.
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Green has played for several teams in his NBA career. He’s spent time with the Rockets, Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers in his NBA career.
He’s still a productive role player even at his age, which has made him a coveted asset for contending teams for several seasons.
What may be most impressive about Green’s career is that he recovered from a heart condition that caused him to miss the entire 2011-12 season. He’s returned to not only play at a high level, but win an NBA title as well.
This season, Green is averaging 7.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for Houston while shooting 61.1 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from beyond the arc.
Maxwell was 35 in his final season in the NBA, and he clearly has a ton of respect for Green still contributing as he gets closer to 40 years old.
Houston is certainly excited to have Green on the roster, especially since the team is playing well so far in the 2023-24 season.
With Sunday’s win over Denver, the Rockets extended their winning streak to six games, putting them at 6-3 so far this season.
Green and Houston will get a chance to build on that streak on Friday, Nov. 17 when the Rockets take on the Clippers.
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