Player Preview - Willie Green - 9/17/2009

SIXERS.COM will preview each of the team's current players leading up to the start of Training Camp. Today, a quick look at Willie Green.

Much is made about the success of the 2003 NBA Draft class, and rightly so. While it may never approach the overall star power of its 1984 counterpart which produced the foursome of Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon and John Stockton, the legacy of the 2003 class may be its astounding depth.

Of the 58 players selected in 2003, 33 are still on an NBA roster heading into this season and all 29 first round picks played in the league at some point. An impressive 10 second round picks from 2003 are still in the league, including two current Sixers: Jason Kapono and Willie Green.

Not many people thought Green had much of a chance to stick in the NBA as an undersized two-guard out of a small college program in Detroit Mercy. Even fewer thought he would make it back after he injured his left knee in a summer pickup game in 2005.

Worse yet was that at the time of the injury, Green was a free agent close to signing a long term deal with the Sixers.

“Every time something like that happens, you just have to understand it happens for a reason,” Green said at the time.

Following a long stint of rehab, Green did indeed re-sign with the Sixers and came back stronger than ever.

Over the past three seasons, Green has appeared in 229 of a possible 246 games for the Sixers, averaging close to 11 points per game. He has also knocked down 153 3-pointers during that span after hitting just 53 his first three seasons combined.

Green has also evolved into a more efficient player over the years, shooting 43.5% from the floor the past two seasons after shooting a combined 39.8% his first four seasons. He recorded almost as many steals as turnovers last season and posted an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.47 after having a career ratio of 1.17 entering 2008-09.

Depending on how the rotation shakes out, 2009-10 may bring about a role change for Green. After spending most of the past two seasons as a starter, Green could be coming off the bench this season.

One of Green’s strengths is his ability to create his own shot; something which could prove valuable for the Sixers second unit now that Lou Williams has moved into the starting lineup. The Sixers bench will need to generate new methods of scoring.

Green already showed some success as a reserve last season. Coming off the bench the first 17 games of the season, he shot 45.8% from the floor and 45.2% from 3-point range while recording an impressive 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Whatever his role may be for this upcoming season, one thing you’ll never have to worry about is the absolute professionalism Green approaches the game with. That alone makes him an invaluable component on a team like the Sixers which is comprised of so many young players.