Newly-minted Toronto Raptors teammates Danny Green and Jeremy Lin know where the other is coming from. Both are products of the NBA's D-League (now referred to as the G League) as neither Green nor Lin was given the advantage of being a first-round draft choice upon their arrival in the league.

In a sit-down discussion with Yahoo Sports' Stan Teming, Green and Lin trade horror stories of the time they spent in the basketball equivalent of the Minor Leagues. Despite those hardships and scorching of their egos, they currently both fill vital roles on a Raptors squad that boasts the second-most wins in the league through play Tuesday (45).

Green, a Long Island product, was a second-round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, beginning his odyssey with D-League assignments and short stints on NBA rosters. He parlayed that experience into becoming a full-time starter for the San Antonio Spurs in 2012-13, winning an NBA Championship with the franchise in 2013-14.

Lin, who entered the league as an undrafted product out of Harvard, first gained notoriety for his captivating performances as a member of the New York Knicks in 2011-12. Before that, Lin had to operate the inner-workings of the D-League. In actuality, Lin played just 35 games for New York, crafting his NBA roster career out over numerous seasons in multiple cities.

The two played alongside one another with the Reno Bighorns, which is the near geographic polar opposite from Toronto. Now, they'll be looking to secure an NBA Championship together and put the icing on the cake of a story of basketball perseverance.