Los Angeles Lakers guard Danny Green revealed that he and his fiancée received death threats from angry fans after missing a 3-point attempt in the final moments of Game 5 on Friday.
The Lakers veteran spoke with the media on Sunday morning. In addition to talking about the missed shot and what went wrong, Green expressed his hope that those people making the despicable threats channel their outrage into far more appropriate and productive means:
“I hope they're that passionate about voting, or injustice for these people who deserve justice – we'll get some better change in the country,” Green said.
Danny Green on the fans who've made death threats against him & his fiancé after his missed shot: "I hope they're that passionate about voting, or injustice for these people who deserve justice – we'll get some better change in the country." Green calls himself "an easy target." pic.twitter.com/F68MgZnpNx
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) October 11, 2020
With seconds remaining and the Lakers trailing 109-108, LeBron James drew multiple defenders on a rim attack off a pick-and-roll, then found Green at the top of the arc. Green's attempt fell short, and Markieff Morris turned the ball over immediately after recovering the offensive rebound. Miami won, 111-108, to stretch the series to a sixth game.
Green's miss sparked an unfortunate and tired debate in the aftermath about (sigh) whether LeBron James should have passed the ball to a wide-open Green rather than force a difficult shot over multiple Heat defenders.
However, the Lakers superstar was clearly making the right basketball move, setting up his teammate for an ideal look. In fact, Green — a two-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs (2014) and Toronto Raptors (2019) — ranks amongst the most accurate 3-point shooters in Finals history:
Best career 3-point percentage in the Finals (min. 50 attempts):
1. Shane Battier, 49%
2. Kevin Durant, 45%
3. Ray Allen, 43%
4. Danny Green, 42% https://t.co/KqhylA1oC9— Zach Kram (@zachkram) October 10, 2020
James had no qualms with Green for missing a shot he has made so many times in his career:
“I was able to draw two defenders below the free throw line and find one of our shooters at the top of the key for a wide-open 3 to win a championship,” James said in his postgame remarks. “I trusted him, we trusted him, and it just didn't go. … You live with that…It's one of the best shots that we could have got. … Danny had a hell of a look. It just didn't go down. I know he wishes he can have it again.”
Bron won't let it get the better of him 🙌 pic.twitter.com/As3bhNMHT4
— LakeShow (@LakeShowCP) October 10, 2020
Green had just eight points (3-of-8 field goals, 2-of-5 on 3-pointers) in 24 minutes in Game 5, though his plus-12 was the best on the team. For the series, the Lakers veteran putting up only 6.8 points per game while his shot has gone cold. He has made just eight of his 31 attempts from downtown against Miami.
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