End Of A Bumpy Ride

After two stints in the NBA's Development League, Celtics forward Gerald Green, 20, who came to the NBA out of Houston's Gulf Shores Academy, averaged 25.7 minutes and 12.7 points in Boston's final 10 games. He reflects on his first year as an NBAer.

IT'S TOO BAD THE SEASON IS OVER. It's been an up-and-down year, but I was really starting to feel comfortable on the floor and I think I was starting to show people the things I can do. The fans have welcomed me but, you know, as an NBA player, you don't make a lot of new friends: You have your teammates and your friends from home and not much else. It's not that I don't want to meet people, it's just that our [traveling] lifestyle makes it difficult to make friends or even girlfriends. I am not going to talk about girls here--that would get me in so much trouble!

NOW MY PIT BULLS AND I ARE GOING BACK HOME TO HOUSTON. We're headed to a house I bought my parents. It's nice, six bedrooms. My parents [Gerald Sr., a retired fireman, and Brenda, a former teacher's aide] and my younger brother and sister, Garlon and Delonya, live there. I'll sleep there, but I plan to spend every free moment at the gym. I'm set to work out with [former NBA] coach John Lucas and then play in a few pro leagues. In July I'll join the Celtics' summer-league team in Las Vegas.

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED THIS SEASON? Well, I can give you my list of favorites. My favorite referee: Joey Crawford--he's fair with rookies. My favorite play: a motion play where I look for a lob [to dunk]. I've got a favorite person to dunk on, but I'm not going to say who. If you throw someone's name out there, the next time you try to dunk on them, you'll get knocked to the ground. (For more on the experience of being dunked on, see page 38.)

I'VE ALSO COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT MATTERS HOW YOU CARRY YOURSELF. I like to goof around, act crazy with my friends, but in the NBA people are constantly watching you. Players are role models. I hope any kids that look up to me see me as a good person. I hope they always do. I aim to be in this league a very long time.