Danny Green suffers calf strain
It has been a fantastic season for Philadelphia 76ers fans and players alike after the team steamrolled through the regular season to finish top the Eastern Conference. Unlike last year, they also had no issues in the opening round of the playoffs as they took out the Washington Wizards in five games.
Even with superstar Joel Embiid forced to miss time during the season and the playoffs due to injuries, it hasn’t hindered or derailed the club whatsoever. However, they have been presented with a new challenge as veteran Danny Green sustained a right calf strain and will be unable to play for at least two weeks. The 76ers are in the middle of a tight second-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks and Green’s loss is a significant one.
“The next guy has to step up. Not sure who that is going to be yet,” Philadelphia head coach Doc Rivers said after his team’s victory on Friday evening, via ESPN.
Green barely got to play on Friday as he was forced to leave the game with eight minutes and 15 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. He was spotted on the bench in the second half with a boot on. He has been a key starter and calming presence for a rather young 76ers side.
The three-time NBA Champion won the last two NBA championships going back-to-back with the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers. He helped the Raptors win the franchise’s first ever title in 2019, before helping Lebron James and the Lakers win inside the NBA bubble last summer. He is hoping to win his third NBA title in three years, with three different clubs – a feat that has never been done before.
Furkan Korkmaz started the second half on Friday in Green’s place and will be leaned upon to help fill the void left by Green’s absence.
“I don’t know the situation about Danny right now, but it doesn’t matter who is in, who is out, we just need to step up. I just need to step up if I need to and I will do it,” Korkmaz said on Friday following game three, via ESPN. “I am ready. I hope it’s not serious. I hope we’re going to get everybody healthy. But if he’s out, I’m definitely ready to step up.”
Korkmaz impressed during his time on the court, posting a career playoff high 14 points. He started just 11 games during the regular season, but played an important role off the bench and will not require much of an adjustment period. Although, according to ESPN the 76ers went 32-7 during the regular season with a starting lineup of Green, Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris and Seth Curry.
Green was originally traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder by the Los Angeles Lakers in November, but he never played a game for the Thunder as he was traded to the 76ers in December with Terrance Ferguson and Vincent Poirier for Al Horford and a 2025 first-round pick in the NBA Draft.
