Rickey Green facts for kids
Green from 1976 Michiganensian
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 18, 1954 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| High school | Hirsch Metropolitan (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College |
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| NBA Draft | 1977 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16th overall |
| Selected by the Golden State Warriors | |
| Pro career | 1977–1992 |
| Career history | |
| 1977–1978 | Golden State Warriors |
| 1978 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1979–1980 | Hawaii Volcanos |
| 1980–1988 | Utah Jazz |
| 1988–1989 | Charlotte Hornets |
| 1989 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1989–1990 | Indiana Pacers |
| 1990–1991 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1991–1992 | Boston Celtics |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 8,870 (9.4 ppg) |
| Assists | 5,221 (5.5 apg) |
| Steals | 1,348 (1.4 spg) |
Rickey Green (born August 18, 1954) is an American former professional basketball player. He played as a point guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Green was known for his incredible speed on the court. An announcer even nicknamed him "The Fastest of Them All."
Contents
Early Life and College Basketball
Rickey Green grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He played basketball for Hirsch High School. In 1973, he led his high school team to win the state championship.
After high school, Green played college basketball. He first played for the Vincennes Trailblazers. Then, he joined the Michigan Wolverines. In 1976, his Michigan team made it to the championship game of the NCAA tournament. They played against the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers and lost a close game. The next year, in 1977, Green led the Wolverines to win the Big Ten regular season championship. He was recognized as an All-American player that year.
Starting His NBA Journey
In 1977, Rickey Green was chosen by the Golden State Warriors in the 1977 NBA draft. He was the 16th player picked overall. He played his first year with the Warriors as a backup player.
After that, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons. He played a few games there before being released. For a short time, Green played outside the NBA for the Hawaii Volcanos. This team was part of the Continental Basketball Association. During this time, he changed his playing style. He became more focused on passing the ball and setting up plays for his teammates. This was a big change from being a player who mostly tried to score himself.
Success with the Utah Jazz
In 1980, Rickey Green returned to the NBA. He joined the Utah Jazz. The Jazz coach, Frank Layden, noticed his improved playmaking skills. Green quickly became an important player for the team. He played alongside high-scoring players like Adrian Dantley and Darrell Griffith.
By the 1981–82 season, Green was the main starting point guard. He averaged 14.8 points per game. He was also one of the best players in the league for assists and steals. The next year, he continued to play strongly. He ranked second in the league for steals and third for assists.
The 1983–84 season was probably his best. He averaged 13.2 points and a career-high 9.2 assists per game. He also led the entire NBA in steals per game (2.7) and total steals (215). Because of his great performance, he was chosen to play in the 1984 NBA All-Star Game. This was his only time being an NBA All-Star. That same season, the Jazz team had a fantastic year. They won their division title and made it to the NBA playoffs for the first time ever.
Later Career and Retirement
Rickey Green continued to be the starting point guard for the Utah Jazz for a few more years. He helped the team reach the playoffs every season. However, a talented young player named John Stockton joined the Jazz in 1984. Stockton eventually took over as the starting point guard in 1987. John Stockton went on to have a Hall of Fame career, playing 19 seasons with the Jazz.
In 1988, Green was chosen by the Charlotte Hornets in a special draft for new teams. For the last four years of his career, he played for five different teams. He mostly played as a backup player. He had a brief strong period with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1990–91. He started 75 games that year and played very well. Rickey Green retired from basketball in 1992 after a short time with the Boston Celtics.
During his career, Rickey Green scored the five millionth point in NBA history in 1988. He hit a three-pointer at the end of a quarter in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He even autographed the ball, and it was taken to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Career Highlights and Statistics
Rickey Green played 14 seasons in the NBA. He was known for his speed and his ability to steal the ball and pass it to his teammates.
- He was an NBA All-Star in 1984.
- He led the NBA in steals in 1983–84.
- He was named an All-American in college in 1977.
Over his NBA career, he played in 946 games. He scored 8,870 points, made 5,221 assists, and had 1,348 steals.
See also
In Spanish: Rickey Green para niños
- List of National Basketball Association players with most steals in a game
- University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
