3 former Cleveland Cavaliers players in the NBA Finals

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CLEVELAND, OHIO – FEBRUARY 23: Jeff Green #32 of the Denver Nuggets passes while under pressure from Darius Garland #10 and Lamar Stevens #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 23, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Jeff Green – Denver Nuggets

Jeff Green is one of those quiet players you never really think about until he leaves your team. Then you realize how many holes he prevented from forming with his play. Even at 36, he’s still proven to be one of the Nugget’s best bench players during the regular season and the playoffs, which isn’t too shabby considering many thought his career was going to be over thanks to heart ailment early in his career.

Now, 16 seasons later, Green is back for the first time since he was in Cleveland, in 2018. In 2018, Green was a key reservist, who played 78 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers averaging 10.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, while averaging shooting splits of .477/.312/.868. Green was not a huge scorer for the Cavs, but he was a good contributor to the team during his stint with the team and helped them keep former Cavs guard Kyrie Irving and the Celtics out of the NBA Finals.

In the NBA Playoffs for the Cavs, he averaged at least 20 minutes per series, peaking with 12.1 points per game during the second-round matchup against the Toronto Raptors, arguably Green’s best playoff performance of his Cleveland Cavaliers tenure, if not his career.

Now, with his career winding down, Green is hoping to see Nikola Jokic lead the Nuggets past the Heat, so he can secure the first NBA Championship of his career.

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