Danny Green endured a major shooting slump to end the 2019-20 campaign. And while the Lakers were able to win in spite of his struggles, he was the subject of much hate and criticism by angry Lakers fans, who felt let-down by his performance.
In ClutchPoints’ Battle for LA Podcast, Green responded to his critics, including some who sent him and his family death threats.
“I don’t like to use the term dark time for me or dark place,” Green told me when I asked if that’s how he’d best describe it. “I don’t like to look at things on a negative context or in a negative light I would always try to find the positive. But I do say is it was tough and it wasn’t easy. Being in LA some months previous to being in the bubble and being a part of the Lakers organization, I know what comes with it. I was used to the criticism and things like that. But when you’re the only sport playing at one point and everything is focused on you guys and basketball, everything is more magnified. So it’s tough man. It’s a tough situation, it was tough times and it wasn’t easy being in that area, being in the scenario. But now we’ve gotten used to it and adapted to it a little bit so if it happens again, obviously, we know how to operate in it. But hopefully it doesn’t happen again.”
After signing a 2-yr $30M contract in 2019, Green was LA’s third highest-paid player this past season. Unfortunately, he was unable to play like it in the postseason and struggled mightily on the offensive end, posting well-below his season averages.
Despite being subjected to literal death threats, Green seems in good spirits as he celebrates his title victory. The hope is that he can put this time behind him and start fresh next season.
