Javonte Green only scored two points in the Detroit Pistons’ game two win over the Magic, and he didn’t even make a shot from the field, yet he was one of their most important bench players.
Green led all bench players with 23 minutes in game two, and in the process, may have ended the playoffs for a couple of his teammates, as he was once again effective at doing what he’s been doing all season, which is making winning plays that go unnoticed.
Javonte Green has been the Pistons glue guy
We often talk about “glue guys” as the players who make winning plays that don’t always show up in the scorecard, the guys who get deflections, make the right pass, dive on the floor and do the little things that win games.
Green has fit the definition this season, firstly by being the only guy on the team who appeared in all 82 games. He didn't get much fanfare or credit, but Green was in there night after night playing tough defense, hitting the occasional corner three and making JB Bickerstaff’s life easier. Green led all bench players in steals this season even though he only averaged 17.6 minutes per game, getting it done whenever he was called on even though his minutes were never consistent.
There was talk that Green might be left out of the playoff rotation, but it didn’t take long for him to put those notions to rest. Green came up huge in game two on defense, blocking three shots and adding a steal to go along with five rebounds.
Green was the most important player that no one has ever heard of.
The anonymous man getting it done for the Pistons
Javonte Green is a journeyman who had to fight just to get into the NBA at age 26, and he’s played for five teams since then, landing on Detroit late last offseason on veteran’s minimum deal. Green is not exactly a household name.
But what a deal it’s been for the Pistons, as Green has come up huge for Detroit this season, hitting 38 percent of his 3-point shots and playing tenacious defense all over the floor.
He’s stepped in as a starter when the Pistons needed him because of injuries, and he delivered, averaging over 12 points, six rebounds and two steals per game with the Pistons going 4-2 in those games. It’s not hyperbole to say that the Pistons would not have had the season they had without Green, and still, no one knows his name outside of the Pistons faithful.
Green won’t care, as he is a low-key guy who isn’t looking for credit. He has not only fit into the Pistons’ culture but helped enhance it by doing whatever is asked of him, so it’s time Green gets some love.
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