Former Lakers champion officially retires from NBA

Former Los Angeles Lakers champion guard Danny Green has officially announced his retirement from the NBA. Green made the announcement on his Instagram page and posted a YouTube video talking about it all.

“I am officially leaving the sport of basketball, the NBA. It was a great run,” Green said. “I am very proud to be able to leave the game. I’m happy with it.”

Green was known as a 3-point shooter during his playing days. He was drafted in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers of the University of North Carolina.

At North Carolina, he helped the Tar Heels win the 2009 NCAA Championship, giving him plenty of winning experience entering the league. He eventually made his way to the San Antonio Spurs, where his career really took off.

He became an integral part of the Spurs and helped them win the 2014 NBA title. Green was one of the most dominant role players in the league and was a great fit for San Antonio.

He remained with the Spurs until after the 2018 season. Green and star forward Kawhi Leonard were traded to the Toronto Raptors, where the duo picked up where they left off in San Antonio.

Both led the Raptors to their first-ever NBA title, defeating the Golden State Warriors in six games. It would be the second title of Green's career, but not the last he would win.

Green signed a two-year, $30 million contract with the Lakers after the 2019 season. He was brought in to help Los Angeles round out the roster alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Los Angeles would win the title in 2020, giving Green the third championship of his NBA career. He was one of only four players, along with James, John Salley and Robert Horry, to ever win three titles with three different teams.

However, much like his time in Toronto, his tenure in Los Angeles was short-lived. The Lakers traded Green to the Oklahoma City Thunder the following offseason. He never played with the Thunder and ended up with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Green spent two years with Philadelphia before injuries derailed his career. He had one more stint with the Memphis Grizzlies and Cavaliers before his playing days came to an end.

He finished his career averaging 8.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while averaging 40 percent shooting from beyond the 3-point line.

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