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 retired professional basketball player. He played for 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Green was a speedy point guard, standing 6 feet tall and weighing 170 pounds. He led his high school team, Hirsch High School in Chicago, to a state championship in 1973. After high school, he played college basketball at Vincennes University. Later, he played for the University of Michigan. His Michigan team almost won the 1976 NCAA tournament, but they lost to the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers in the championship game. In 1977, he helped the Wolverines win the Big Ten regular season championship. He was also recognized as an All-American player that year.
Green was chosen by the Golden State Warriors in the 1977 NBA draft. He played for many teams during his career, including the Utah Jazz and Boston Celtics. People called him "The Fastest of Them All" because of how quick he was on the court.
In 1988, while playing for the Jazz, Rickey Green made history. He scored the five millionth point in NBA history! This happened when he hit a 3-pointer right at the end of the third quarter in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He signed the ball after the game, and it was sent to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Contents
Rickey Green's Basketball Journey
Rickey Green started his NBA career with the Golden State Warriors. He was a backup player in his first year. Then, he moved to the Detroit Pistons for a short time. After that, he played for the Hawaii Volcanos in a different league called the Continental Basketball Association. During this time, he changed his playing style. He became less focused on shooting and more focused on passing the ball and leading the team's offense.
Becoming a Star with the Utah Jazz
In 1980, Rickey Green returned to the NBA. He joined the Utah Jazz. He 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, he was the full-time starting point guard. That year, he scored a career-high 14.8 points per game. He was also one of the best players in the league for assists (7.8 per game) and steals (2.3 per game).
He continued to play strongly in the next season. He averaged 14.3 points per game. His assists went up to 8.9 per game, and his steals increased to 2.8 per game. He ranked third in assists and second in steals across the entire league.
All-Star Season and Leading the League in Steals
The 1983–84 season was Rickey Green's best year in the NBA. 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). He had also led the league in total steals the year before. Because of his amazing performance, he was chosen to play in the 1984 NBA All-Star Game. This was the only All-Star appearance of his career.
That same season, the Utah Jazz had a great year. After struggling for many years, they won their division title. They made it to the NBA playoffs for the first time ever. They advanced to the conference semifinals before losing to the Phoenix Suns.
Later Career and Retirement
Rickey Green remained the starting point guard for the Jazz for the next few seasons. He helped the team reach the playoffs every year. 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, all with the Jazz.
Green was chosen by the Charlotte Hornets in 1988. For the last four years of his career, he played for five different teams, mostly as a backup. He had a brief strong period with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1990–91. He started 75 games that year, averaging 10.0 points and 5.2 assists per game. Rickey Green retired from basketball in 1992 after a short time with the Boston Celtics.
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
