How Jeff Green is Fulfilling his "Uncle Jeff" Nickname

Read my latest Chron story about the Houston Rockets veteran's storied, 18-year NBA career

For my Chron debut, I wrote about Jeff Green’s storied career—entering the league alongside Kevin Durant, winning an NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets after playing for 12 teams in 15 seasons, and wearing his “Uncle Jeff” nickname with pride as the Houston Rockets look to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Big thanks to

Eddie Maisonet, III

for editing this story with care. I’ve followed Green’s career since he joined the NBA in 2007, and it was so cool getting to watch him win his first championship ring as one of the locker room leaders for the Nuggets. All of that made writing this piece a special experience.

A preview:

Source: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Names can act as self-fulfilling prophecies, sometimes forecasting our futures.

"Uncle Jeff," the nickname given to Jeff Green early in his career, has come to define his position in the NBA and his current role with the Houston Rockets. This moniker was assigned to him by none other than his former teammate and the ultimate "Unc" in LeBron James.

Now, in his 18th season, Green stands alongside James as a benchmark for longevity in the league—both are among the oldest active players in the NBA, with Green at 38 and James at 40.

In 2009, Green suited up for the Sophomore team in the Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend. Two other Oklahoma City Thunder teammates joined him on the court: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. James, who was in his fifth season, served as a guest commentator and noted Green’s old-head playing style.

“He said during the game that my game reminds him of an uncle that's at a park that's just fundamental and can play,” Green told a local radio station in 2018. "And when Twitter first came out, I was reluctant on getting it (as my username), but KD and Russell (Westbrook) were trying to make me get it, and they made the name 'Uncle Jeff' from the statement that LeBron had made.

“It kinda just stuck because I'm an uncle of two nieces—two beautiful young ladies," Green continued. "It's been with me for years, and I don't think it'll change."

Beyond Green’s playing style and his pride in being a real-life uncle, “Uncle Jeff” feels especially fitting now as Green is easily the oldest member of the Rockets’ roster.

The rest of my story includes:

• The cities and teammates that have shaped Green’s career

• A diagnosis that almost took the game away from Green

• The championship mentality Green brings to the Rockets

• How Green shows up for his younger teammates

Click through to Chron to read the full essay (and if you want to share it with your people, please share the Chron link).

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P.S. In case you missed it, my latest newsletter essay explores “glazing” — the popular Internet slang mostly used by young men — and the revolutionary act of Black men loving other Black men.

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