The Houston Rockets’ acquire free agent Gerald Green in time to end their 5-game loss streak.
Via Houston Rockets
Last week, Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced that the team signed free agent guard/forward Gerald Green. Green will wear #14 for the Rockets.
Green (6-7, 205) was originally the 18th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft out of Gulf Shores Academy in Houston. In 10 NBA seasons, he has appeared in 544 games with 116 starts while averaging 9.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game. Green played 47 games for Boston last season and scored in double-figures four times during the Celtics run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Over the past six seasons (2011-12 through 2016-17), Green averaged 10.7 points in 21.3 minutes per game. During that span, he was one of three players with at least 230 games played to have averaged at least 10.0 ppg in fewer than 22.0 mpg, joining Manu Ginobili and Enes Kanter. Green also hit 556 3-pointers in those six seasons after having 130 3FGM his first four seasons.
It was evident that Green was excited to be a member of the Rockets squad as a picture of his hair braided expertly, by Houston braiding aficionado Sandra Finn, into the Houston Rockets logo began circulating on social media.
Green is a Houston native and his favorite NBA player “of all time” is legend Hakeem Olajuwon. Green told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, “I grew up watching him, idolizing him. He’s a wonderful person.”
He went on to say, “For me growing up, knowing how he impacted a lot of families and taking Houston to championships back-to-back, I know all about that. When my dad was in a bad mood, all of a sudden he could be in a great mood because Houston won.
“I want to bring that back. I might not do it like he did, but this team has a possibility to have that same power. Right now, with what Houston has gone through, it’s a perfect time, right now. I want to be a part of it.”
Green is already making noise as he hit the 3-point shot with 17.7 seconds left on the clock on the New Year’s Eve matchup against the LA Lakers to tie up the game and send them into overtime.
The Rockets ended up winning in double overtime with a final score of 148-142.