Danny Green's minutes have dropped since joining the Los Angeles Lakers, but the veteran swingman is not bothered by this new reality. After all, what matters for him and the team is the “bigger picture.”

In his first year donning the Purple and Gold, Green is averaging 25.4 minutes per game — the lowest minutes per outing he has averaged since the 2013-14 season. In the fourth quarter, he's just averaging 5.4 minutes, his second-lowest minutes in the fourth among players in the Lakers regular rotation, the first being Rajon Rondo.

Green, however, understands why he is playing a lot less despite his credentials.

“We play it by ear. I think every person, every player knows on this team what the bigger picture is. It’s not about how many minutes (you get),” Green said, per Christian Rivas of SB Nation.

“Obviously, at the start of the season we all played a lot of minutes in the first game and then coach had to figure out what was best for everybody, figure out different lineups. That’s pretty much what his job is, and to not to feel bad because there’s so many great players on this team.”

The two-time NBA champions furthered that they are playing as a team that has a collective understanding of their main goal: to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy come June.

“Some games you’re going to play a lot of minutes in games that are close, or you’re playing well. Some games you’re not… You’ve got to go with the guys that are rolling,” Green added. “That’s what we need. Everybody knows in the bigger picture it’s not about me or my minutes or whose turn it is, (or) who’s playing over who. We’re all here collectively to try and win, have the best season possible and also try to win an NBA championship.”

It's an interesting insight from the veteran. Perhaps, this is the main reason the Lakers have been successful so far. Amid all the individual stats and accolades, basketball, at the end of the day, is a team sport.