Since he arrived to the Philadelphia 76ers, many have come to praise Danny Green. Primarily because he was traded for Al Horford and his massive contract, but also because he brings a lot to the table. Along with being a much better fit in the lineup, Green also brings veteran leadership and championship experience to the Sixers.
Having been a part of three different title teams, Green understands what it takes to win in the NBA. The knowledge and resume he brings to the table is something this Sixers core has never had from someone in the supporting cast.
Between his style of play and success in his career, the Sixers' younger players can learn a lot from someone like Green. Knowing this, he has done his best to be a mentor from the moment he first stepped foot in the locker room. Guys like Furkan Korkmaz, Matisse Thybulle, and Isaiah Joe have all mentioned Green as someone they go to for advice and tips over the past two seasons.
Green has established himself as someone anyone can come to, but there is one specific teammate he has taken under his wing. That player is Matisse Thybulle, who Green has said reminds him of himself.
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Following the Sixers practice on Sunday night, Green opened up on his mentorship to Thybulle. He continues to do all he can to help the 24-year-old become a complete player.
“Most of the time, I talk to him on the defensive end, and a lot of times it is just human nature, what we do, it's what we are supposed to bring to the table. But offensively, I try to for sure talk to him, more so than anybody else. Because he is still young, I want him to grow and be a complete player. Not that he is not, but I want him to not short himself and put himself in a box,” said Green.
Everyone knows what Thybulle brings to the floor defensively. He is among the league's top perimeter defenders and is sure to be on All-Defense teams for years to come. The issue lies in his offensive limitations hindering his ability to play extended minutes. The young wing has improved his overall field goal percentage this season, but his 3-point shooting has dipped once again.
There is no better mentor for Thybulle than Green. He has made a long and successful career embracing the 3-and-D role, and Thybulle can do the same. Doc Rivers and his coaching staff continue to explore different avenues to help Thybulle be impactful on both ends. The veteran wing can also help in this effort to turn him into more than a defensive specialist.
One major thing Thybulle can learn from Green is his ability to relocate on offense. This is why he is a perfect complement to Sixers star Joel Embiid, as he can seamlessly read and react to get in a better position as a kickout option. Moving without the ball and finding open space is the best way for Thybulle to generate good scoring looks right now.
The impact Green has behind the scenes is what made it a no-brainer to re-sign him in the offseason. It would not be surprising if years from now, players are still talking about all the little things they learned from him.
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