Danny Green Holds Court at St. Mary’s

During a special morning assembly, the student body, faculty, and staff erupted in cheer for the former Gael as he walked onto the stage, warmly welcoming him back home to his alma mater, where he played varsity basketball, ultimately celebrating his first championship in his senior year.

He gave an overview of his career trajectory and reminisced about the journey, which was often difficult on the road to the NBA and not without struggles, including multiple trades once he made the big league.

He shared his experience at St. Mary’s, which taught him “a lot of discipline and work ethic.” He cautioned the students to “enjoy your youth, but don’t take it for granted ...take it seriously, because the real world, it’s not an easy place.” He added, “Make sure you put the work in now so you can live easier later.” According to Danny, balancing academics and athletics was challenging, requiring dedication and support from peers and mentors. “This part of life helped (high school and college) me realize and figure out ...what I might want to do when the ball stops dribbling.”

Danny was joined on stage by two current student-athletes who play varsity basketball for the Gaels. Laila Carr ’26 and Andrew John ’27 sat down and posed several great questions for Danny. They covered topics such as naming the most satisfying championship, which coach had the most significant influence on him and why, asking if playing in the NBA was stressful or fun, and how his faith played a role in the journey. They learned the answers to these questions with impressive composure, further piquing their interest in his career and Danny’s advice.

After their interview, the students presented Danny with a letterman-style jacket emblazoned with St. Mary’s, his career-long #14 on the shoulder, and his championships listed on the back.

Danny is among the esteemed honorees being recognized at the school’s 75th anniversary gala on May 3. We are grateful to Danny for his time and for sharing his words of wisdom with us. His visit was one for the history books!