As a medical staff currently under immense heat for the handling of the Kawhi Leonard situation, the San Antonio Spurs were also reportedly unaware of a medical condition with guard Danny Green.
Not only the Spurs, but Green himself also had no idea that he was playing a large chunk of last season with a groin tear, a serious injury that can certainly hinder a player. Though Green knew he had strained his groin during a December game against the Boston Celtics, he did not know whether the tear occurred during that same matchup or another time. Green recently revealed the news on the first episode of his new podcast, stating that he also wished he had gotten a second opinion (h/t Yahoo Sports).
“I would feel it and they were like, my agent, ‘Maybe you should get a second opinion.’ I didn’t want to because I have full faith and believe in the Spurs staff. They’ve always been great to me, they’ve always done right by me, they’ve always done a hell of a job.”
“So throughout the season, we’ve monitored it, but we never went back to check on it again because so many other injuries have happened. I could have got a second opinion, so I see where Kawhi is coming from when he’s got his second opinion. Because a lot of times, you’ll get information from outside sources that, not saying that Spurs staff is not up to par, it’s just not that everyone’s a specialist in every area…”
“Second opinion could have helped, but they did a great job. They did everything they could, but I think it would have been nice to see a specialist, just to see if there was another angle, another view. Just because Kawhi got a second opinion, you can’t knock him for that. Everyone should get a second opinion, just to see another perspective.”
As Danny Green pointed out, Leonard also went and sought a second opinion on his quad injury, which is what kept him out almost all of last season. Obviously a smart decision even though it brought upon heaps of criticism, Green could’ve also benefitted from getting his groin checked out a second time.
Though Green remained San Antonio’s starter in 60 of the 70 games he suited up for last year, his play took an obvious hit. His percentages from the field, three-point range, and the charity stripe all dropped while he averaged only 8.6 points per game.
Now with he and Leonard both members of the Toronto Raptors, hopefully they’re able to put their adversity-filled years behind them and focus on claiming the Eastern Conference crown this coming season.
