Yesterday afternoon, news broke stating that the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers and 30-year-old swingman Jeff Green had agreed on the terms of a one-year, $2.3 million veteran’s minimum deal. While it’s true that Green is remembered most for his days with the Boston Celtics, he still has a strong affinity for the city of Cleveland — especially the Cleveland Clinic.
Why would Green have such a love for Cleveland Clinic, you ask? The answer is quite simple, really. The fine doctors and nurses at the hospital basically saved the former Georgetown Hoya’s life in 2012, when he underwent successful surgery to repair an aortic root aneurysm. On the one year anniversary of his procedure, Green sent out an appreciative message to his followers on Twitter.
Now, Green will make his way back to Cleveland, as Kenny Chesney would say. According to a report from Joe Vardon of cleveland.com, the 6-9 former Big East Player of the Year has a special place in his heart for the city.
“My feelings for Cleveland are a little bit different because there’s always the memory of me having surgery here,” Green said. “Cleveland is a special place to me now because it’s a place that helped save my life.”
“Occasionally you have a chance to reflect on the whole year and what I’ve been through,” Green continued. “It is still amazing to me that I’m able to play and play at the level I’m playing at, having the success that I’ve had. Nobody would have thought that I’d come back and produce the way I have.”
Throughout the course his career in the NBA, Green has averaged 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, but saw a dropoff in production this past season with just 9.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists on 39.4 percent shooting from the field and 27.5 percent from beyond the arc. We’ll just have to wait and see how the Cavs utilize his services.