By SchoolSports.com
A year ago, SchoolSports compared former Gulf Shores Academy (Houston) swingman Gerald Green to Tracy McGrady. Green was then selected by the Boston Celtics with the No. 18 pick of the 2005 NBA draft. Though Green's rookie season didn't exactly go according to plan, he started to blow up toward the end of the season. We caught up with Green to discuss life in the NBA and what it's like to put your future on hold.
SchoolSports: Did your rookie year go as you expected?
Gerald Green: It has been a little harder than I thought it would be. But I fought through it, and I think it turned out great.
SS: What's been the hardest adjustment for you, both on and off the court?
Green: I guess probably living on my own. I'm not used to always being by myself. On the court it's been just getting defensive rotations and getting acquainted with this level of the game. This is the highest level of basketball.
SS: Do you keep in touch with some of the other guys from your high school class who went pro?
Green: I try to. We're always so busy with our own team and so busy working out and trying to get better. I try to keep up with their stats to see how they're doing.
SS: Do you ever regret not honoring your commitment to play for Oklahoma State?
Green: I don't ever look back and wonder what could have been, but I always look back to see how good they are now. I know they had a tough season this year and had a lot of problems.
SS: What do you hope to accomplish before next season?
Green: My personal goal is just to be better than I am right now. If it's smarter, if it's a better defensive player, if it's a better offensive player or just anything, I just want to add something better so next year at training camp I have something new to my game.
