Back in December 2010, veteran forward Jeff Green needed open-heart surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm that both threatened to end his NBA career and his life.

It has also provided a new perspective on life for the 31-year-old that has led to him connecting to others away from the game of basketball that have gone through similar situations. This led to him recently developing a bond with a child that went through that experience whom he visited prior to Thursday’s road game against the Houston Rockets.

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/928779769356935169

It was a touching moment for Jeff Green to not only praise the kid for soldiering through the surgery but also calling him the next superstar in the NBA several years from now. He has developed a strong respect and appreciation for those that have gone through that type of major operation and have recovered from that potentially life-threatening situation.

The Cavs forward’s ability to not only recover from the surgery but also make it back to playing in the NBA is an impressive feat alone. He’s in his 10th season in the league playing for his sixth team while still proving to be an impact player holding a career average of 13.5 points per game.

In his first season with the Cavs, Jeff Green is currently averaging 11.0 points on 51.1 percent shooting from the field and 34.8 percent from beyond the arc to go along with 2.5 rebounds in 21.7 minutes per contest while appearing in all 12 games.