Danny Green has been an analyst for ESPN and Turner Sports since retiring from the NBA.
Danny Green is a winner.
He won an NCAA national championship in 2009 as a senior at the University of North Carolina. He won NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs (2014), Toronto Raptors (2019) and Los Angeles Lakers (2020).
Although he is no longer helping teams hoist trophies, he is still having championship-level success … in the world of sports media.
Green launched a successful podcast, “Inside the Green Room”, in 2018.
He’s also served as an analyst and color commentator for several networks, including ESPN and Turner Sports.
The former sharpshooter recently talked with NBA.com about his playing days, the current NBA and his rising broadcasting career.
Editor’s Note: The following conversation has been condensed and edited.
NBA.com: So what have you been up to since you hung up your sneakers?
Danny Green: A little bit of everything, but mostly the media side. I’ve been doing some stuff with ESPN, NBA Today and you can catch me on Spectrum SportsNet. Those are the two main networks that I’ve been working with. And then I’ve done some random stuff with the Association, and with Apple Vision Pro, which is also through Spectrum. I called some games for the Spurs and did some college games. I’ve been a color analyst and done some radio with Compass. I dibble and dab, a little bit of everything.
Talk a little bit about the podcast.
“Inside the Green Room” has been going for 7 and a half, almost 8 years now. We were early in the game. My newest one “No Fouls Given with Paul Pierce” is big. It’s been fun. I get to interview some of my teammates and present myself in a certain way. I still have a ways to go, but this has helped. Now that I’m retired, I can talk about the game in a certain way. With Truth and [Big] Wos, it’s the perfect platform to have fun and talk basketball.
You started the podcast when you were still playing. How did you know you wanted to get into the media?
I started thinking about it before I got to the league because I didn’t think I was going to make it. I did four years of school, bro, like I was a late bloomer in every, every aspect of the game. When it came to getting recruited to a top school, I didn’t start getting recruited until my senior year. I snuck into the McDonald’s All-American Game, like I wasn’t supposed to be there. I climbed the ladder late, and then once I got recruited by Carolina, it pushed me up more. Once I signed with Carolina, I came off the bench my first year. Second year, didn’t play much at all. In third year, I’m still sixth man. I didn’t start until my senior year. And I was a second-round pick.
I studied communications. I had to have a backup plan in case I didn’t make it. Obviously, coaching or player development were options. But I was like, let me look at this sports media stuff. As a young kid, I could persuade people. My dad was like, “You’ll be good on TV.” So I decided to follow in the footsteps of — rest in peace — Stuart Scott and people like Kenny Smith, who have been doing it for a long time.
Who did you kind of model the way that you interview and handle yourself when it comes to sports media?
I can’t say it’s any particular person. I’m trying to be my own person, but there’s certain people that I take pages from. You know, when JJ [Redick] did it, I thought he was good, even though he’s a Duke guy, but he always fought for the players. He came with stats to back up what he was saying.
Laughing at how you threw that in there, even though he’s a Duke guy.
Like, it’s rough to give the Duke guys love. Jalen Rose was a guy that I watched a lot. Shannon Sharpe … Stephen A. bring the energy. Perkins and Richard Jefferson have different things that I like. I like the lane that Richard Jefferson is in.
I don’t want to be a hot take guy. I want to give valuable information, critique the players, if necessary, but not be too harsh on them. I respect the fraternity, and I know how hard it is to score … or to even be in this league. I always have the players back, and I give the fans an inside perspective on what it’s like to be a player in the locker room and on the court. That’s kind of the lane that I was going for. And, you know, still trying to get there. I’m from New York. I talk a lot faster. Slow it down … take your time. Different networks are more challenging, you know? It’s like, all right, you have this certain amount of seconds to get this, and it’s like, are you going to pick two or three thoughts and stick to those thoughts? Because as an analyst, you always have a bunch of stuff running through your mind, and if somebody says one thing, you have to think of a different thought, you know.
Have you seen a lot of growth in yourself? You’re obviously more comfortable behind the mic now and all that type of stuff. Do you think you’ve improved?
I definitely feel more comfortable. I have a routine. I used to be intimidated when I was on set with certain people. Malika is so good, I’m not as intimidated. I’m more comfortable saying my perspective without them looking at me like, “Oh, he’s still a rookie.” It’s respect.
Big picture, what would you like to do? How far do you want to take this?
This is a second career, right? I want to be the best at whatever I do, and that doesn’t mean being the best person in that field, but I want to be the best version of myself in that field. You know, I wasn’t Michael Jordan, but I feel like I was the best version of Danny Green when I played. I feel like I reached my full potential and actually maximized it. I squeezed as much out of it as I could, out of the body and the mind during that run. Same with this. I mean, obviously it’s not about the check, but of course, that would be nice to be up there with those guys like Shaq, Kenny and Chuck.
It’s about having a solid career and working for, you know, maybe 10 to 15 years, and then when the kids are out the house, then retire and relax. But I would say the goal was to be with a network full-time. But again, I like to have the freedom sometimes, of being able to work with different networks and then making my own schedule. But, yeah, I think the goal is to be with a network full-time and just show my kids what the value of a dollar is.
Let’s talk about you as a player. What were your career highlights?
I was so fortunate and blessed. Man, I have a lot of them, you know, like even in college, to be able to win my last college game, win a national championship my senior year. Like not many people can do that or say that. To end on that type of note, of course, the three championships were unbelievable. The one in the bubble wasn’t as fun as the other two. The parade stands out, playing in the Finals, just playing the playoffs. Getting the respect of your peers is more important than any accolade. Like, you know, I’ve been All-Defensive Team only once. I feel like I could have gotten it, you know, at least one or two other times.
How are Steph and LeBron still getting it done at their age?
Unbelievable. Night in, night out, 30-plus minutes a night. Bron is 41 years old. Their longevity is impressive. They are both so dedicated when they have nothing else to prove. Both have MVPs, won multiple championships, have solidified themselves as Hall of Famers, but they still want to win and be great. It’s just unbelievable, and it’s impressive to see their longevity, and how much they take it, how dedicated they are when they have nothing left, like they have nothing else to prove. They are already solidified Hall of Famers. They still want to continue to compete, they still want to win and still want to be great. Steph is a guy that’s more relatable because nobody saw him becoming this. And he’s not the tallest, he’s not the strongest, not the fastest. Those guys are unbelievably impressive.
You know we have to talk about Victor Wembanyama.
I would have loved to be able to share the floor with him. I just missed him when he came in as a rookie. You know, I was in Philly. But he’s unbelievable man, and I feel like he has a stature that’s something you can never get used to. It’s kind of like Joel Embiid. When Joel walks in the building, he’s such a big body. And this kid’s taller than Joel and lanky. I thought he’d be good. I didn’t think he’d be this good this soon. Of course, there was hype as the No. 1 pick. He’s exceeded my expectations. The toughest thing is to keep a 7-4 guy healthy. He can definitely dominate the game in so many different ways. Defensively, lobs, shoots threes and his maturity is beyond his years already. Not only can he be one of the best Spurs of all time with Tim Duncan and David Robinson, but if he continues, he could be one of the best big men ever.
How good do you think the San Antonio Spurs can be?
I think they could be very good. They could be the next iteration of the OKC Thunder. I think the Spurs and Thunder will be battling out for the next decade of who goes to the Finals. It could be that type of deal. I can see both those teams winning, two or three titles each within that decade, just going back and forth. But yes, I think the Spurs can be very good, especially if they can get the growth of the young guys.
Who’s your league MVP so far?
I’m gonna have to go SGA only because Jokić has been out. If Jokić didn’t miss those games, it’s a toss-up. They’ve both put up some unbelievable numbers, but right now I’m going to say SGA.
You were known for your 3-point shot and your defense. Who was the toughest person you ever guarded?
JJ was unbelievable in college, but even when we played Boston College, Jared Dudley was a problem to guard. But in the league, Derrick Rose was a monster. Like, you know, Derrick Rose was one of those guys that was like, you got to lace him up. And he was like a little running back and jumping up with the trees, jumping above people, laying up above the rim, both arms, unbelievably explosive. And then I think the most consistent was Kevin Durant. But there were always guys like Steph off screens, Kyrie and James Harden who could really put the ball in the basket. Consistently, I probably say Kevin Durant. And there’s a reason why I had him at number two in the all-time scorers behind Michael Jordan.
How does the fact that you were a pro player help you with your media preparation? Is it the same type of mindset?
Definitely, I think everything can translate sports to a lot of things in life. Like in every business, there’s a team, and it doesn’t work if everybody’s not on the same page and communicating just like on the floor, and there’ll be a glue guy. There’s got to be a leader. There’s got to be a person who’s really good at this or that. So yeah, your approach to the game should be your approach to anything you do in life.
