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Gregg Popovich’s Text To Danny Green After Lakers Won Championship

Gregg Popovich’s Text To Danny Green After Lakers Won Championship

The Los Angeles Lakers won their 17th championship in franchise history this year.

It was a momentous occasion for all parties involved, particularly given the trials and tragedies LA faced along the way.

Following the Lakers’ big win, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich reached out to his former player, Danny Green, to congratulate him.

In the text message, he also directed the 33-year-old to deliver a message to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The note was quintessential Pop.

“Tell LeBron and AD I said congrats as well, but tell them to play a little more defense,” the legendary coach wrote.

Popovich has shown a more playful side to his personality in recent years, so the message is not particularly surprising. Nor is the fact that he reached out to Green, since the pair shares a very mutually beneficial history together.

Green won a championship with Popovich and the Spurs in 2014 when they defeated James’ Miami Heat.

The following year, Green recorded the best statistical season of his career when he averaged 11.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 81 outings. He ultimately ended up spending seven years with San Antonio before joining and winning another title with the Toronto Raptors.

This past season Green averaged 8.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.8 threes per game for LA, but he lacked the sort of consistency that many fans had hoped to see. He was brought in to be the organization’s sharpshooter, but he could not quite live up to that reputation.

General manager Rob Pelinka ultimately traded Green this offseason along with the No. 28 pick in a transaction that brought the defending champs Dennis Schroeder.

Although Green and Popovich obviously parted ways some years back, it’s nice to see that they still have such a positive and open relationship.

Given the way Green has bounced around the league over the past couple of years, it wouldn’t be all that shocking to see him reunite with his old coach at some point.

And given the fact that Green has now won a championship with three separate organizations, if he does return to San Antonio, it could mean some very good things for Popovich.

Related: Kelly Oubre Unhappy With How Suns Tenure Ended

Anthony Amador

A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.

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