NBA FINALS: HEAT VS. NUGGETS

May 31, 2023

Jeff Green

Denver Nuggets

Media Day

Q. With you and Udonis Haslem in this series, can you give us thoughts on what it takes to maintain longevity in this league, what it's like to have that kind of ride in this league?

JEFF GREEN: Man, what it takes? Dedication, passion, sacrifice. You got to do the right things to be in this position obviously. You got to be for the team.

I think all those qualities UD has. He's shown me those qualities. That's why I'm in the position today. He's been a good mentor, friend of mine for a while. Watching him from afar, seeing how he's went about his business.

Also, I live in Miami, so seeing his work from afar. Studying that allowed me to get in this position. I just took it and put it to my use, now I'm in the position I am in today. I just try to relay that message to the young guys to be in this league for a long time.

Q. Aaron was talking about the time you guys spent together several years ago in Orlando. He's taken a very different role here than he had back then. I'm wondering what you've seen in terms of how his mentality has changed, what's allowed him to be open to that?

JEFF GREEN: I seen a lot of growth in there, maturity obviously. When we were in Orlando together, he was young, still trying to find his footing in this league. But now I see, like I said, a much more mature Aaron who is simplifying his game, not trying to do too much but be effective in his pursuit of the game, letting the game come to him.

I think his defense has been tremendous. I think his focus is starting there, and he's allowing that to carry over to the offensive end.

Aaron, he's a workaholic. He's somebody that has worked on his game a lot to get to this point. He's a big X factor for us, what he brings to this team.

I've seen a lot of growth in him wanting to be in this position. For me, I think he's one of the best two-way players in this league. I don't think he get enough credit for that. He deserves to be where he's at right now.

Q. You had some matchups with Kyle Lowry back in your day.

JEFF GREEN: I won those, by the way.

Q. Do you remember anything else about those matchups? What has it been like to play against Kyle?

JEFF GREEN: I love Kyle to death, man. He's been a good friend of mine. He's somebody who is a true competitor. Like you say, since college. Like I said, I won a lot of those games.

He brings the best out of you. He's going to guard, compete to the high level. I've been loving his game ever since college, since he got in the league, how he plays, his approach to the game. I think I have a good record against him, so I got to keep that going.