In-Depth with Danny Green

to Danny. By the way, we sat down to discuss returning to Philadelphia, unfinished business from last season, his wedding, his dogs, and his favorite spots to eat around Philadelphia. Danny was thoughtful as always, and it was great to hear some of the tricks of the trade from one of the league's most respected vents. So, without further ado, here's our conversation. Danny Green, Hello, welcome back to Philadelphia. Thank you, thank you. I'm excited. How are you feeling

on this fine Saturday. Oh so it's early, got testing, so I'm doing well though. It was also I'm back here in the city. We had a chance to do some special we were one game away with you. Not everybody healthy, myself included in that conversation. So, yeah, it's gonna be interesting. I would say a lot of teams were stacking up, a lot of teams are trying to rebuild. But I thought we had a good foundation, a great you know, I guess year last year in the East.

So we get a chance to run it back and hopefully, you know, bring the same group of guys back with a you know, a little bit more experience and a better mindset. So tell me about these last few weeks as you made a free agency decision. How did you land on the decision that you made. It's interesting. So I'm never usually in the country when free agency starts. I don't know why. It's not usually by choice or planned out. But the last couple of times I was

out the country. This time I was out the country. I was in Columbia. I have a wedding coming up in two weeks or in a week now, but I was in Columbia for a Baschel weekend, and I was a lot of my friends and I had a chance to talk to him about certain things. Obviously, Philly was always a priority because you know, I had we had a great group, I had a great team, had a chance to win. That's always the the deal. They have my bird rights, so they're able to, you know, offer

more than other teams. But there were some other teams that were interested, they just didn't have space. It's that another but said, the prior is always to come here. So you've mentioned it a couple of times. But the end of last season obviously didn't go the way that anybody hoped. But I think it was particularly tough for you because you had to watch from the bench. How does an ending like that now drive your motivation as

you return to the same group. Well, I think it was, even though it sucked to end the way it did, but I think it was great for us coming into this year and have the same group. For the guys that played leave a bad taste in the mouth to come back stronger mentally with a chip on their shoulder, and myself to try to prove myself a proof that I can bring some value to help us get over

that hump for this upcoming season. So yeah, it's just a kind of similar to us the years that when I was in Santonio, we played Miami be lost and came back got another opportunity to play them again in the finals. So I'm really hoping that we played well this year and also get an opportunity to play Atlanta in the playoffs again, you know, to change in there

of that story. When you did your exit interview at the end of last season, you talked about there being sort of small areas where you guys could have been a little bit of better, a little bit better or focused on more. So when you think about those small things that you could do that could make the difference this year, what are those things to you? It's just continue to build the maturity in the team. Let's set the professionalism, and that takes time. It's hard to do

in one year. But I think those guys are a year older, year smarter, more mature be in that situation. But me being around. We're missing George and Dwight this year, so it's a little different. But me being around and hopefully having some other vets around helped them, you know, build the right habits so that if I'm not that

situation happens again. You know, I'm not saying they don't need me, but they can carry on and follow suit with me off the floor of you know, doing things the right way and being professional to build close out games regardless of who's on the floor. So before you came, Tobias, at least in my time here has been sort of like the figurehead leader of this team, sort of the guy that kept everybody together. What was your experience like playing with Tobi last season, What do you like about

him and how do you see your chemistry developing. Oh, it was amazing. It was great because I've known to buy it since he was a kid. I don't know if you know this. We grew up in the same areas, so I've known him since he was a youngster, and we've known each other for a long time. We've always competed against each other and a chance to play with each other. So this year to actually finally get a chance to play with each other, it was great. It

was a lot of fun. Got a chance to know each other and see what each other brings to the table, and we use that to our strengths, to our team and help keep the team together. So having him by my side, having those other guys, other veterans by my side, made it easier for my job on the court, but also mainly off the court and keeping the locker room

together and keeping those young guys and teaching them. So had a lot of fun learning, had a lot of fun watching them, you know, become the player he is now. He had a great year, should have been an All Star and hopefully, you know, you get sit this year coming up. But it was amazing to see how he operated on and off the court and how he helped not only me but his teammates understand what the goal is and keep things in order. You mentioned growth, development, fashionalism.

You've mentioned your young guys, and I remember, for me at least watching that Atlanta series, the way that you were constantly in their ear where they were talking Tyrese or Matise or Shake. What do you think about those young guys? What do you see in their future? Why are you excited to play with them again? I see a bright future. I get excited mostly because the young guys. I want to see them do well, and I think they have the potential to do great things. You know,

they have a lot of talent. Tyrese is very talented, Paul Reid is very talented, Shake is very talented. Matisse furk. I'm glad they brought him back. All these guys are very good and I see them carrying this organization to the next step if they're here years after that, some of these guys are gone, but I can see them, whether it's here or another spot, them being a big figure, a big piece to a very important puzzle in different

organizations or if not this one. So I said, I think they have a lot of potential, a lot of talent, and I think they have a bright futures league and being in this league for a long time, and I'm excited to see how they grow and what kind of players they turn into. You mentioned furkn and I'm curious from a player's person backtive what free agency is sort of like, because you said you're excited he's coming back, So for me, I'm also excited that folks coming back.

I was pumped when I saw the tweets. That's how I find out. I understand that's usually how y'all find out as well. But what's it like as you're sort of waiting and anticipating, trying to make your own decisions, watching your friends make their decisions. What's that experience like. It's it's it's a it's a lot of I think it's more fun seeing that than anything else seeing the other pieces fall or the chips fault in different errors.

So it's obviously you're excited about your situation if you get to choose where you want to go, but you want to see what guys go where, who gets what, what teams improve, um, what your other ex teammates get, or what kind of deals they may get. Um. Instead, I found out I wouldn't speak the FIRLK, but I found out through the internet as well that he was

coming back, So it was exciting. UM. So yeah, during that process, I think that's the most fun exciting part is to see what guys get, what deals, who goes where, what teams change, and you know what big changes happen, which might you know, erupt the league or you know, make the internet Internet, you know, blow up. Um. I don't think there's many of those this year stuff obviously Russell Westbrook to LA that made the whole Internet blow

up a little bit. But there's always some type of move or some type of contract that people are like whoa or you know some of them that it kind of confuse you. So that's the interesting part and what makes the league unique. You mentioned it a couple of times. You feel and literally you guys were obviously one game away from from advancing, from going farther than this team has gone recently. And you've talked about openly about the fact that you feel if you weren't injured, you could

have made the difference there. You could have pushed them along because of the impact that you made all year. So how much do you look forward to sort of getting another swing with at least largely the same group. How confident are you in the group that you're going

to get to you reunite with now. I'm very said, I'm very much looking forward to it because I just know the narrative here and I feel like, even though I'm older and I feel like people think I have nothing to prove, we all have some to prove every year of what kind of player we are. But not

just as an individual, but as a group. What can you do to for a group with the group and this opportunity to bubble, you know, change the narrative here in Philly is everybody's going to doubt us, everybody's going to think that we're a fool's gold. We're not going to be able to get it done. You know, Philly's always had this curse or whatever it is that they think that we're gonna lose all the time. It's able to come in and try to change that or be

able to achieve that. I think it, you know, I guess make people look at this organization differently and also us individually differently. You know, these guys came together and did it, and they have some pieces here and some people here that helped this group get over the edge and achieve something that they never achieved before. So that's always the goal, not just not just this year, but every year. Every time you's up on the floor, we

going to win a game wherever we're at. I think everybody's competitive one once they won with that organization, but it's been a long time since Philly's gotten one, and I want to be a part of that group that's able to get it done. I think this is my last basketball specific question. I'm sure you'll get to call me out on that later when I come up with another one. But you've accomplished a ton. We know your teammates call you mister three rings. We know you've been

to the mountaintop right. So now looking at the next few careers a few years, this phase in your career. What is still driving you to come in and be as excited as you are right now. I just think everybody in this league that's lasted longer than a couple of years, and you know, not just one contract is they're never satisfied and they want to be great. It's not about the money, it's not about all the you know,

accolades and the fame. Um. They just want to be I was respected by their peers and just be the greatest at what they do. And some people just want to be the greatest player ever. Um competitive, But I just always want to win. I always want to be the greatest at what I do and when remembered in this game and leave some type of legacy behind. But

I'd just like to win. I love to play the sport, um, you know, regardless of how many Championships've won, no matter how contracts I've gotten, Um, it's all about, you know, trying to leave a mark and leave I said to the respect and respect of my peers and the people that also watch us, you know, the fans. But um, you know, just leaving this game with you know, knowing that I gave everything to it because I know it's giving me so much in return. Um, it's given me

a lot more return than I've given to it. So I've enjoyed it thus far, having fun with it, but just knowing that I I did everything I could to be the greatest at what I do in my position. So let's start to zoom out just a little bit. And I think it's fitting actually for those of you who have not been well. No one is where we are right now. Danny and I are at the Sixers training complex. We're literally sitting between the court and the locker room. So let's move from the court to the

locker room. Okay, have you talked? I know it's only been a little bit of time, but have you connected with any of your teammates who's excited? How are we feeling? Yeah, So Tobias one of the first guys that called me. I mean, Joel was talk texting me throughout the process a little bit. Tobias is calling me NonStop throughout the process. So he's one of the first guys that faced tom Me. He had a cigar in his mouth, he get his hair braided. You know, he's in a different element and

he was relaxed. I think he had a Nike wife beater on or something like he just finished working out something. But yeah, he's he's in San Diego, Tom lem no One. I was back out west, so I talked to him. I talked to Paul Reid. Surprisingly, he's funny. He's asked me about the wedding. He's like, are you ready to you know, did you write your your writing wedding vows. I'm like, now, we're not doing like what I'm saying. So he was just asking about that type of stuff.

He asked I was going to come a summer league and see them plasts. I'm try if I can, but so I do have a wedding to prepare for, you know, Paul, So it's gonna be tough. But I did connect and talk to a lot of them. I still communicate with those guys before free Toency. Happened during free adency, and even after I talked them, they were happy for me. They were congratulating me, and you know, it was all love and I'm sure all good. Chance to see him soon, said, hopefully,

allow of them show up to the wedding. If not, I'll see them during the season or when I go back to San Antonio. Sie Georgie he lives there. I'll see Dwight when I'm in LA, so I'll get a chance to connect and see all those guys throughout the summer. We talked about it a lot last season, but among the group, the vibes were very strong. Something you guys have told me, but it's something that even if I hadn't spoken with you, it was just very clear. Like

people saw it on TV. People could tell when they came to the games. You guys really did get along and had a good energy among you. I talked to Isaiah Joe yesterday at Summer League about the big energy chain and the competition between the two of you. Specifically, when you think about about last year's group, what about that energy and what about those bonds are you hoping to bring forward? Like what made that part of the

cheap special? I just think that it was kind of fresh and new, and we kind of fell into a family, a brotherhood, very easily and quickly. It just wasn't forced, and guys were excited. Guys enjoyed it, and we understood each other well and we got along well. I's said, all the things you just mentioned happened, you know, kind of organically, so I'm hoping to carry that over, hoping to carry that energy over. We know each other a little better, so it makes it easier to have certain

uncomfortable conversations to hold each other accountable. But we want to continue and bring that same energy, that same positivity and guys having fun, regardless of what the outside noise is saying, without the media is saying, with these people saying, our groups are group and whoever we bring back, we believe we can win a title with. And it starts with us and and us being believing each other and also just being there for each other. Also take some

time with us holding each other accountable. So hopefully we can continue that energy, hopefully continue to carry that over and have fun, but hopefully we get able to have said the conversation we need to have to hold each other accountable and make each other better. Last season was obviously super unconventional for a lot of reasons, but mostly because of the pandemic and all the extra hoops you guys had to jump through on a day to day basis.

So when you reflect on how that all went, do you think that any of that adversity that you guys were facing as a league, as a group of NBA players, but within the sixers, you guys were really facing it together. There were new guys here that had never played here and then also had to deal with all that stuff Like how do you think that that very strange ecosystem that you guys were placed in influenced those bonds. I think it was a strange year all around for a

lot of groups. Obviously me and Dwight had a quick turnaround coming from had six weeks off, but coming from a bubble to half the season no fans, half the season with fans so many games back to back, short and season starting later. It was just different. A lot of injuries happened, excuse me, COVID happened a lot of times throughout the year. We had times we had seven players, sometimes we had eighteen, sometimes we had six. You know,

it was strange. So we had half a half of a roster, no roster or a third of a roster. Being able to play through that and fight through that was different. Traveling was different. Um, playing teams twice in a in the same you know road trip. Um, so well, I'm shouldn't see how the schedule comes out this year. Um, it was a it was a different year, and I

think everybody adjusted pretty well. But I think the fact that because of so many of those things, it's so much adversity with all those groups is why you saw such a weird playoffs, such a weird finals situation. A lot of people couldn't predict the teams that were gonna come out. Um, And you know, it makes it, it

makes it spontaneous, it makes it fun and great. But at the same time, um, you know, it just made it a little weird for not just the fans, but you know, people inside of the organization, inside of the fraternity of the NBA. UM. But hopefully we keep that spontaneity. We still have the playing games next year. Next year should be a lot of fun um, even though some of the teams don't like it. The league was very different this year, and I think it was a year

for everyone to adapt. I think we're gonna adapt in the just fine. I think the rest of the teams will kind of get used to this format and then you know, hopefully, you know, excel from here. I remember Tobias saying right when the because you guys had some time off getting that one seed, not having to play in those planes, and Tobias said, I love it because we don't have to play in it. Was that sort of the vibe you had with the players pretty much

who it is. If you're not playing it, you're you're fine with it. Once you're in that situation. Guys hate it? Oh, you guys should We should never did this, We should never agree to it. And I get it, trust me, I do. Um. It's exciting basketball, though the fans love to see it. Um, it's a tough position to put yourself in, a tough position to be in when you're fighting for a playoff spot. But is it also like the fact that we had rest, But I didn't like the fact that it was too much rest, But I

think we needed it. We got it. Even with the much rest of we had, we still had injuries and it was tough to bounce back from. So something, let's let's make a big pivot. It's you mentioned it a couple of times and I was excited to ask you about it. You are getting married, Yes, how are we

feeling about it? It's just a tough situation to explain in words, because it's one of those things that you're excited for, really hard to get excited for it because there's so many moving parts, it's so hectic going, it's so much invites, this, this, and that. It's always you feel like you always somewhat behind. Whether we haven't been this done. Then there's a bunch of invoices that people

don't care to pay. So with all the stresses of that, it's hard to be excited for I think most people are excited for it, but really excited to get it over with because they just want to make sure everything's perfect. It's never gonna be perfect. I've been to wedding one wedding this year, Mark Williams got married, and I talked to a lot of my Carolenda guys who've gotten married

to something's gonna go wrong. Just be prepared for it, just you know, fight through you laugh at it later, but just let it, let it happen, and roll with it. And I have another wedding I go to after mine. So yeah, learning from those instances, learning from those guys. I know it's not gonna be perfect, but you always want it to be perfect because it's your days, her day.

So yeah, I'm looking forward to it. But it said, I can't wait till it's over said, we can actually breathe and not be, you know, stressed about all everything that we need to do with invitations, with people, emails, invoices. You know. It's just it's a lot, and I see why a lot of people are stressed. Even when you say I'm gonna jump on it ahead of time, like we start a year ago, it still it comes up quick and there's always a lot of decisions to make

every day. I don't envy you at all. That's yeah, it's it's hectic, but it's not that's It was a lot more going on, which made it even tougher for me. So the free agency thing, not knowing where it was going to be moving to. We just finished building a house in California, so that's taken a little while. Um, you know, so so many other moving parts that that

was was happening during the time. So just moving from here, I don't know where I'm moving to, finding another place here, other people's weddings that I had to prepare for, so yeah, making sure my brothers, my family was good. Just just a lot going on that it was hard to uh to put just focus on just the wedding and actually just enjoy that part of it because there's so many

outside things happening. So take me through the timeline. As we wrap up your hair in Philly, now signing your contract, getting excited about this next phase, he said, you have to go back to the West Coast. You have to go get married, You have to come back to Philly. Like, talk to me about what does Danny Green's life looked like. Hectic still said, the weddings gonna have hopefully slows down after that, but it's more so finding another place here. Uh you know, I have dogs. Those are my kids

for right now. I don't have any kids yet, so I'm making sure that they're good. Have to go back and forth. They're in New York right now, so fourth on a place to drive up to find when we have find a place to bring them to a place here. So that said, fixing up the house in californiating furniture there, you know, figure out My brother said, he's in the summer league. The wedding situations. There's so many other things

going on. I'll say a lot of investments and people doing you know, stocks day trading, that type of situation. So there's so much going on that trying to figure out where to go from here, where to do this, where to do that, but mostly just invoices. There's a lot of bills this summer. And once I'm done with this summer, I don't plan on spending money for the duration of my contract, so that I I can just save up and and not. You know, during the year, I

don't do any shopping and stuff like that. But yeah, this summer was it was hectic for me. And I'm not a big spender like that. So you're telling me you're not gonna spend any mone for the next two years, I wouldn't say any Are you gonna eat? I'll eat, But I don't consider that spending money. So I me spending money like buying clothes, gifts and extravagant things or or events planning events. I'm not doing any more of

that for a while. Okay, fair enough, Um, tell me about what you you're you're looking for a place in Philly. What do you like about Philly the city? Like how much? First of all, yeah, how much were you able to even immerse yourself? I was in it, Um. I lived in the Northern Liberty area, like that area. I was thinking about moving some I mean, but I liked it. Surprised you. This thing is surprised me of what it can offer. You know, just so many great restaurants, good people.

Is a good quiet neighborhood, a dog dog friendly neighborhood. Um so, yeah, I enjoyed being the city. I think I'm kind of looking for something like that similar to that. If not h you know, so with the dogs, similar in the suburbs would be would be cool too. But just the biggest important thing in Philly if you're staying in Phillies if they have parking, um so final place with par making. That helps. But outside of that, so that,

the city was great. You know, I had a good time, you know, operating around the city, seeing fans, meeting people, and them showing a lot of love. I love the fans, I love the people here. It was an amazing time. They treated me like a long time six or even though I was here for only a year. So I had a lot of fun and they all showed me a lot of love throughout the city. I am coming up on three years in Philly, and this is the first time I moved right at the beginning of the season.

This is the first time I have parking and It's changes the game. It changes a lot. It changes a lot. I feel so grown with a parking spot, like it's out of control. I can leave, come and go as I please, not worry about it. The street is something different. Parking on the street and knowing the rules and make

sure you're not gonna take it. One time, I got to take it outside of my house in front of my own garage, which is kind of crazy because you know, I use the garage of parking sometimes if there's no parking spots, I tell people can parking from my garage, So I'll leave right because you're not gonna call the parking authority. Oh yeah, just avoiding tickets and finding a spot is very tough in the city. You mentioned restaurants. Do you have any favorites that you're most excited to

go back to. Um, well, there's a lot of them that were very good. I mean, Cathie Lamada is one of my my go to so good. Yeah. I wanted to try to have which was really good. Park was good. Um we did a team dinner at was it was it Steak forty eight? Visit that? Yeah, I'm broad and I think it was Steak forty it's a very good There's a lot of great ones here. So those are the top of the list that I've been to. There's some at the top of the list that I haven't

been to. I'm going to try out um. So, yeah, I'm excited about Manet to get a chance to check out all the museums, either the history I see some of us. At most of the time that we were here, everything was closed down, so we didn't a chance to experience Philly um the way I would like to. So we talked to Philly. We talked food. What do you like to do off the court? Like for fans that don't know as much about you as a dude, like what's Danny Green doing when he's not playing. I'm usually

with my dogs. I enjoyed my dogs. I enjoy my TV series. I like to relax and sleep. I'm a big t so traveling throughout the years enough for me. I travel. I like to relax with my family. Um. But also I don't have many major hobbies during the season. It's really just taking care of the body and changing trying to trying to change my eating habits, my diet a little bit. I'm not taking I'm not being vegan or vegetarian just yet, but I have cut back on sweets.

But for the most part, it really just just relaxing out and enjoying my family and friends around me, enjoying life because I don't have many years left in this game, many years of traveling and playing, so just taking it all in and enjoying the process of being in the NBA and going through the step I step with my family and my friends allow them to enjoy it as well. I'm not really a dog person, but I know that if I don't ask you, the dog people are going

to come for me. What types of dogs? How many like? Give us the run down too. I have two palm skis, and I mean if you've never owned the dog, I mean I wasn't a big dog person here until I got them. I like dogs, I like animal, like all animals. My grandma had a bunch of animals growing up throughout our household, from birds to fish, to snakes to dogs, cats, all types of animals. So I've seen every single type of animal. We've taken care, we've cared for song, and

we've seen have litters. But dogs were cool. I had a dog grown up, but not I was a kid, so I didn't know how to take care of the dog. When I got them, you realize why people do some of strange things with the dogs they do. They become

family members. Um. So, yeah, I have two dogs, the two Palmerin hug pomskis the Palmerin Husky mix about medium size, about between thirty and forty pounds, and I have a lot of fun go to dog park with them, kicking with them, relax out and you know they make coming home regardless of good good day, bad day, or good game or bad game, they make home a lot more, you know, warmer and happy. They're always excited to greet you,

and you know they could change the whole day. So they bring a lot of positive energy and a lot of um, you know, good vibes when I come to the house. Yeah, I don't think the dogs know how you're playing. But I don't think dogs don't care. They're just excited to see you. They don't talk back, you know. So you know, I always compare that to kids and my dad. Dad he's like, I don't like dogs and I have more kids. At least dogs don't talk back, not saying that I do want kids but I'm taking

my time and I'm enjoying the dogs right now. What are the dogs names Gizmo and Duke? Any story behind those? Or Gizmo looks like he's like red brown fur. He kind of looks like Gizmo from Gremlins. With those who've seen in the movie Nuke, he had like a camo fur, and we couldn't think of like military names. He has blue eyes and is like nuclear weapon. He just was explosive and he was just all over the place, so we just call him Nuke for like like nuclear weapons.

So it's Gizmo and Nuke, all right. Well, Danny Green, We're so happy to have you back. Happy to have the dogs back, Billy, looking forward to running it back with you exactly an amazing season coming ahead. Awesome, Thanks Danny, Thank you. A big thank you to Danny, of course for sitting down and sharing some stories and insights with us from his offseason, his career, and his hopes for

the season ahead. Make sure you're on the lookout for more of these one on one interviews from the seventy six ers podcast network as the run up to training camp continues. It is almost that time, I know, I say it every podcast, but the season creeps closer and closer by the day. I for one, am very excited about it. Keep listening along and thanks as always for tuning in. I'm Lauren Rosen. Have a good one, guys,