Houston Rockets: Thank you, Gerald Green!

On Friday, the Houston Rockets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder by 33 points. The performance saw Stephen Silas' men right the ship after their opening night loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The comprehensive victory had Rockets fans on their feet, but the victory wasn't the only reason to celebrate.

Gerald Green announced his retirement from the National Basketball Association after 12 years. While Green may be retiring as a player, he announced that he will be joining the Houston Rockets coaching staff as a player development coach.

Gerald Green was born and raised in Houston, when he was 11 years old he was in an accident that caused half of his finger to be amputated after a dunk attempt on a neighborhood court. The freak injury didn't scare Green away from attacking the rim for long. In the NBA, he became known for his beautifully executed dunks and was awarded for them as well.

He holds the titles for the 2005 McDonald’s All American Slam Dunk Contest, 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, and finished runner up in the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. His cupcake dunk in the Slam Dunk Contest is still one of the most legendary dunks in the history of the event.

In the 2005 NBA Draft, Green was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 18th overall pick. Green had a nomadic NBA career. He bounced around the league, played one game for the Rockets in 2007-08, and even spent two seasons playing in Russia. It wasn't until 2017 that he finally found himself back in Houston.

In his first full season with the Rockets, the 2017-2018 season, he became the first player in franchise history to make seven or more 3-pointers in a game. Watching Gerald Green play live was nothing like watching him on TV. To fully appreciate his greatness on the court, you had to be there. 

The seasons that followed were met with injuries, surgeries, trades, and “waives” but that didn't stop Green from giving back to the city where he made so much history. Green has done some amazing things to put on for his city, but it's not just the Houston Rockets braids or the Houston tattoos that make him Mr. Houston.

Throughout the years, Green has always given back to Houston. What makes it so special is that he doesn't do it for the press or the applause. He does it because he loves his city and wants to genuinely help people. “Gerald Green treats children to back-to-school shopping spree”, “Gerald Green drives around Houston trying to help people affected by Harvey”, “Rockets Gerald Green takes family affected by Harvey, furniture shopping” are just some of the headlines that highlight just how much Green has done to serve his community. 

With that being said, thank you to Mr. Houston himself, for not only giving your all to the Houston Rockets, but for being an example of how a man of his community should be, for being a role model for children, and everything in between. Thank you, we can't wait to see what you do for the Rockets and the city as a coach.