How Many Rings Does Danny Green Have After 13 Seasons As A Successful Role?
Do you know the answer to the question “How many rings does Danny Green have”? Green has been a key role player for multiple NBA championship teams, finding himself in many big postseason games over the last decade.
Although his modest career averages of 8.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 1.6 APG may not garner much attention, his outstanding 3-point shooting, good defense, and team-first attitude make him a perfect addition to elite NBA teams with established stars.
Green has successfully squeezed out every last bit of basketball potential over his 13-year career in the NBA so far and is a testament to what hard work can accomplish for role player NBA prospects.
If you don’t already know, by the end of this article you will know the answer to “how many rings does Danny Green have?”.
What Teams did Danny Green play for?
Green has played for 5 NBA franchises in his career. The Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Philadelphia 76ers.
Prior to the NBA, Green spent 4 years playing college basketball for the University of North Carolina. At UNC he established himself as a good, all-around player for a talented Tar Heels roster that included future NBA players Ty Lawson, Tyler Hansborough, Tyler Zeller, Ed Davis, and Wayne Ellington.
Largely overshadowed by many of his more famous teammates, Green was not a highly regarded draft prospect and was selected with the 46th overall pick in the 2nd round of the NBA draft. But, how many rings does Danny Green have after being selected in the 2nd round of the draft?
How many championship rings does Danny Green have?
Danny Green rings tally up to 3 championships.
Who did Danny Green win a Championship with?
Green’s championship pedigree started during his collegiate basketball days at North Carolina, where he won a national championship during the 2008-2009 season. In his NBA career, he has won 3 championships with 3 different franchises. The San Antonio Spurs in the 2013-2014 season, the Toronto Raptors in the 2018-2019 season, and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2019-2020 season.
Although he was the last of 4 Tar Heels selected in the 2009 draft, his championship rings and long-lasting career have made him the most impactful NBA player from the 2008-2009 North Carolina basketball team.
Early NBA Struggles
Few could have envisioned the eventual championship success that Green would have in the NBA after his first 2 disappointing seasons in the league. After appearing in just 20 games with the Cavaliers during his rookie season, Green was released by the franchise the following offseason.
He was picked up by the San Antonio Spurs near the beginning of the 2010-2011 season but was waived after just 2 games. He spent most of the remaining year with the Reno Bighorns in the NBA Developmental League, now known as the G-League. Green eventually rejoined the Spurs for 6 more regular season games.
The 2011-2012 season marked Green’s first full year with a franchise, and he would appear in all 66 games in the lockout-shortened season. By the 2012-2013 season, he had become a mainstay of the Spurs franchises, starting in 80 regular season games.
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Danny Green’s 1st Ring – The 2013-2014 San Antonio Spurs
Green would play a key part in the 2013-2014 San Antonio Spurs championship run, a redemption title where the Spurs would avenge their heartbreaking 7-game NBA Finals loss to the Miami Heat the year before. Although Green himself would take a small step back offensively, averaging just 9.1 PPG in the 2013-2014 season after averaging 10.5 PPG the year before, he would play a significant role in the later playoff rounds of the 2014 postseason.
During the 2014 Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Green averaged 12.2 PPG and shot an incredible 54.1% from 3-point range. The 2014 NBA Finals saw the San Antonio Spurs put a historic offensive beatdown on the favored Miami Heat, easily beating them in five games.
Although Green would average a modest 9.2 PPG during the series, his continued great shooting including 53.1% from the field and 45% from 3-point range, and consistent good defense helped play a key part in the Spurs’ victory over the Heat.
Danny Green’s Raptors Ring – The Kawhi Trade and the 2018-2019 Toronto Raptors
After the fallout between Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs, Green was included in a trade with Leonard to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for DeMar DeRozan on July 18, 2018. The change of scenery was a huge boost for Green, who had the best season of his career, averaging 10.3 PPG and 4 RPG, all while shooting 46.5% from the field, 84.1% from the free-throw line, and a career-high 45.5% from 3-point range, the 2nd highest 3-point percentage in the NBA that season.
Unfortunately, Green was unable to replicate his regular season success in the postseason, struggling mightily with his outside shooting. However, Green did have a big game during game 3 of the NBA Finals.
The Warriors, minus Kevin Durant, who were favored to win the series, stole the home court advantage by beating the Raptors in game 2. In game 3, Stephen Curry put on a show, scoring 47 points and threatening to give the Warriors a decisive 2-1 lead. However, Green would save his 2019 postseason best for this game, making 6 out 10 3-point shots to help the Raptors win, a major turning point in the series that eventually saw Toronto win 4-2.
Does Danny Green have his Raptors Ring?
Ironically, it took nearly 3 years for Danny Green to get his championship ring from the Toronto Raptors. Players normally receive their ring at the team’s first home game the following season.
Since Green signed with the Lakers for the 2019-2020 season, he would receive his ring the next time he faced Toronto at the Raptors’ home arena. However, the COVID-altered 2020-2021 season and player-bubble set-up prevented Green from receiving his ring in Toronto, which had temporarily relocated to Tampa Bay.
The first opportunity for Green to receive his ring came on December 28, 2021, with the Sixers and Green set to face the Raptors on the road. However, he opted not to receive his ring since the crowd was limited to half capacity due to continued issues with COVID.
Finally, on April 7, 2022, Green and the Sixers faced the Raptors on the road in front of a full-capacity crowd, where he was officially awarded his championship ring.
Danny Green’s 3rd Ring – Lebron, AD, and the 2019-2020 Lakers
Green’s final championship ring came with the Los Angeles Lakers during the COVID-shortened 2019-2020 season. Unfortunately, Green’s 2019 postseason struggles with the Raptors would spill over into the 2019-2020 season, where he shot just 41.6% from the field and 68.8% from the free throw line.
However, he still was able to play good defense and have occasional key offensive moments in the 2020 NBA postseason. During the deciding 6th game of the series, Green would hit 3, 3-point field goals, grab 5 rebounds, and play good all-around defense, helping the Lakers vanquish the Heat 4-2.
Danny Green’s championship ring with the Lakers marked his 3rd with a different franchise, joining Lebron James, Robert Horry, and John Salley as the only other 3 players to accomplish this feat.
So, how many rings does Danny Green have as one of the most successful role players ever?
Danny Green’s championship rings and key contributions to elite NBA teams make him one of the most successful role players in the league over the last decade. Despite his early NBA struggles, he was able to develop into an elite outside shooter and good defender, a vital commodity to elite, title-contending franchises.
He has appeared in the postseason in 12 of his 13 seasons in the league, playing in 31 different playoff series. No need to again mention the amount rings Green acquired as a result of his postseason appearances. You already know the answer to “how many rings does Danny Green have?”.
