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UNC in the NBA: Danny Green reveals he played through injury

By Zack Pearson

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 22: Danny Green #14 of the San Antonio Spurs drives on Luc Mbah a Moute #12 of the LA Clippers during a 106-101 loss to the LA Clippers at Staples Center on December 22, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 22: Danny Green #14 of the San Antonio Spurs drives on Luc Mbah a Moute #12 of the LA Clippers during a 106-101 loss to the LA Clippers at Staples Center on December 22, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Former University of North Carolina Tar Heels standout Danny Green launches a new podcast and reveals something big about his final year with the Spurs

Danny Green found a home with the San Antonio Spurs in 2009 after spending a year with the team that drafted him in the Cleveland Cavaliers. Green became a key role player for the Spurs and even won an NBA Championship with the organization.

While he expressed a desire to remain in San Antonio, Green was traded along with Kawhi Leonard to Toronto earlier in July.

Green now joins a Raptors team that finished the 2017-18 regular season with the best record in the Eastern Conference but were swept out of the playoffs in the second round by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Following the trade news, Green thanked the Spurs and the team’s fans for eight years he spent there.

Now just days after Green was traded from the Spurs, Green launched his new podcast “Inside the Green Room” and revealed some big news from last season. The forward revealed that he played most of the year with a torn groin that was undetected by the Spurs trainers.

After suffering the injury on Dec. 8 against the Boston Celtics, Green said he got an MRI the next day as it revealed a slight strain. Here’s the exact quote via ESPN.com:

"“I get an MRI the next day,” Green said. “[It says] slight strain, take a couple weeks off. So we do the rehab, do everything we’re supposed to do. After some time, it healed. I tried to play again. Certain days, I’d have bad days. Some days would be good. I’d feel it. My agent [Joe Branch said], ‘Maybe we should get a second opinion.’ I didn’t want to because I have full faith and believe in the Spurs’ staff. They’ve always been great to me. They’ve always done right by me. They’ve always done a hell of a job.”"

Here is the full podcast episode:

While it may be easy to blame the Spurs medical staff on this one, Green did go on to admit that he knew he had an injury and it needed time to be healed but that he also didn’t get a second opinion.

He goes on to end that paragraph by saying how good the Spurs have been to him throughout his career, deflecting any blame on the team’s medical staff.

Green just celebrated his 31st birthday and will enter the 2018-19 season hoping to be a key contributor for the Raptors. Toronto should be one of the favorites in the NBA’s Eastern Conference and will look to finally reach the NBA Finals.

As we prepare for the upcoming season, Green will also be producing more episodes of his new podcast. To listen to it, fans can visit the official site for the podcast found here.

Next: Ed Davis funds a new home in the NBA

For more on Green and other former UNC stars in the NBA, please check back with Keeping It Heel.

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