Donté Greene
Encyclopedia
Donté Dominic Greene (born February 21, 1988 in Munich
, Bavaria
, West Germany
) is an American
professional basketball
player for the Sacramento Kings
of the NBA
. A 6-foot-11, 226-pound forward from Baltimore, Maryland, he played for the Syracuse
Orange's basketball team
for one year before being selected as the 28th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies
in the 2008 NBA Draft
.
He was a 2007 McDonald's All-American, Maryland's 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year, was named to the Nike Brand All-America Team and selected to play in the 2007 Jordan Classic. In the class of 2007, he ranked as the No. 7 overall recruit and No. 2 power forward by scout.com and as No. 10 overall and the No. 3 small forward
by rivals.com.
.
Greene would once again play on Team USA in the 2007 USA Basketball U19 World Championships. Although he was slowed by a shoulder injury, Greene played in eight-of-nine contests and averaged 4.3 points and 1.5 rebounds. The team took home the silver medal after losing to Serbia
in the championship game.
to lead Syracuse in scoring, while setting a new SU freshmen record for 3-pointers in one season, notching 90, surpassing Gerry McNamara
, who previously held the record with 85. Greene also led Syracuse with 57 blocks. He was named to the Big East All Rookie Team.
However, Greene struggled in Big East play, where he shot just 28.6 percent (40-for-140) from downtown. While he led Syracuse in scoring, he also took more shots than anyone on the team, and had more turnovers (91) than assists (71). He was also criticized for his poor shot selection and porous defense. Greene and Jonny Flynn
were the country's second-highest scoring freshman duo. In April, 2008 Greene declared himself eligible for the NBA draft. Greene had 19 points and 13 rebounds in an 85–73 Syracuse victory over Seton Hall
on March 5, 2008. Greene also scored a season-high 27 points in an 87–81 NIT win over Robert Morris
on March 18, 2008.
as part of the Pau Gasol
trade, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Greene as the 28th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft
. He was later traded by Memphis to the Houston Rockets
. Greene signed with the Rockets on July 15, 2008 and proceeded to score 40 points in his summer league debut at the Thomas & Mack Center
in Las Vegas
. He hit 12–20 field goals, including 5-of-10 threes, to go along with 11-of-12 free throw
s. On July 30, 2008, according to NBA front-office sources confirmed to ESPN.com, it was agreed that Greene, along with Bobby Jackson, a 2009 first-round draft pick
and an excess of 1 million dollars, were to be traded by the Rockets to the Sacramento Kings
in exchange for Ron Artest
(now Metta World Peace). The deal was made official on August 14, when Greene (per NBA rules) was eligible to be traded after signing a contract with Houston on July 14.
Early into Greene's second season he finally began to show the promise that earned him his first round draft selection, scoring over 20 points multiple times (including a 31 point, 11 rebound game against the Phoenix Suns
.) Greene began showing a more consistent jump shot, an improved defensive effort, and more mature decision making skills. He became a consistent contributor to the young Kings squad averaging over eight points a game and making 69 three pointers.
. He was the first player the Kings had ever sent to the D-League. In his first game with Reno, he scored 26 points in a 93–91 Bighorns win over the Bakersfield Jam
. After performances of 14, 18, and 16 points in his next three games, he scored 28 points, with 14 scored in the final quarter, in a 117–103 win over the Utah Flash
on January 17. Greene was recalled to the Kings that same day.
| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09
| style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento
| 55 || 4 || 13.2 || .326 || .260 || .853 || 1.6 || .5 || .3 || .2 || 3.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2009-10
| style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento
| 76 || 50 || 21.4 || .441 || .377 || .643 || 3.1 || .9 || .5 || .7 || 8.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2010-11
| style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento
| 69 || 21 || 16.3 || .404 || .292 || .662 || 2.1 || .7 || .5 ||.3 || 5.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 200 || 75 || 17.4 || .406 || .320 || .678 || 2.3 || .7 || .5 || .4 || 6.3
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player for the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. A 6-foot-11, 226-pound forward from Baltimore, Maryland, he played for the Syracuse
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
Orange's basketball team
Syracuse Orange men's basketball
The Syracuse Orange men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball team representing Syracuse University. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
for one year before being selected as the 28th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
in the 2008 NBA Draft
2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
.
High school career
Greene attended Towson Catholic High School, where he averaged 18.4 ppg., 6.8 rpg., 3.0 apg., 2.1 spg. and 4.3 bpg. as a senior in 2006–07 and helped Towson Catholic to a 32–6 record and to its second consecutive Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League titles.He was a 2007 McDonald's All-American, Maryland's 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year, was named to the Nike Brand All-America Team and selected to play in the 2007 Jordan Classic. In the class of 2007, he ranked as the No. 7 overall recruit and No. 2 power forward by scout.com and as No. 10 overall and the No. 3 small forward
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
by rivals.com.
Team USA
Greene was named as a 2006 USA Men's U18 National Team member on June 26, 2006. He averaged 3.5 ppg. and 1.0 rpg. as the USA captured a 4–0 mark and the gold medal at the 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men in San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
.
Greene would once again play on Team USA in the 2007 USA Basketball U19 World Championships. Although he was slowed by a shoulder injury, Greene played in eight-of-nine contests and averaged 4.3 points and 1.5 rebounds. The team took home the silver medal after losing to Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
in the championship game.
College career
In his freshman year of college, Greene started all 35 games he appeared in and led Syracuse in scoring with 17.7 points to go along with 7.2 rebounds per game. He became the first Syracuse freshmen since Carmelo AnthonyCarmelo Anthony
Carmelo Kiyan Anthony , nicknamed "Melo", is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association...
to lead Syracuse in scoring, while setting a new SU freshmen record for 3-pointers in one season, notching 90, surpassing Gerry McNamara
Gerry McNamara
Gerry McNamara Sucks because he did not get drafted into the NBA.Gerry McNamara is a former American basketball player and current graduate assistant coach. He is a former guard for the Syracuse University men's team, from 2002 to 2006...
, who previously held the record with 85. Greene also led Syracuse with 57 blocks. He was named to the Big East All Rookie Team.
However, Greene struggled in Big East play, where he shot just 28.6 percent (40-for-140) from downtown. While he led Syracuse in scoring, he also took more shots than anyone on the team, and had more turnovers (91) than assists (71). He was also criticized for his poor shot selection and porous defense. Greene and Jonny Flynn
Jonny Flynn
Jonny William Flynn is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association...
were the country's second-highest scoring freshman duo. In April, 2008 Greene declared himself eligible for the NBA draft. Greene had 19 points and 13 rebounds in an 85–73 Syracuse victory over Seton Hall
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
on March 5, 2008. Greene also scored a season-high 27 points in an 87–81 NIT win over Robert Morris
Robert Morris University
Robert Morris University is a private, coeducational university in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1921, the school was named for Robert Morris, who signed the Declaration of Independence, and helped finance the ensuing war with the British.-History:Robert Morris...
on March 18, 2008.
NBA
In the pick that they received from the Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
as part of the Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol Sáez is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . He was born to Marisa Sáez and Agustí Gasol, and he spent his childhood in Spain...
trade, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Greene as the 28th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft
2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
. He was later traded by Memphis to the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
. Greene signed with the Rockets on July 15, 2008 and proceeded to score 40 points in his summer league debut at the Thomas & Mack Center
Thomas & Mack Center
The Thomas & Mack Center is an arena, located on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. For ring events, the capacity is 19,522, for basketball, the capacity is 18,776.-History:...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. He hit 12–20 field goals, including 5-of-10 threes, to go along with 11-of-12 free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
s. On July 30, 2008, according to NBA front-office sources confirmed to ESPN.com, it was agreed that Greene, along with Bobby Jackson, a 2009 first-round draft pick
2009 NBA Draft
The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
and an excess of 1 million dollars, were to be traded by the Rockets to the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in exchange for Ron Artest
Ron Artest
Metta World Peace is an American professional basketball player and rapper who is currently with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. World Peace gained a reputation as one of the league's premier defenders as he won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2004...
(now Metta World Peace). The deal was made official on August 14, when Greene (per NBA rules) was eligible to be traded after signing a contract with Houston on July 14.
Early into Greene's second season he finally began to show the promise that earned him his first round draft selection, scoring over 20 points multiple times (including a 31 point, 11 rebound game against the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
.) Greene began showing a more consistent jump shot, an improved defensive effort, and more mature decision making skills. He became a consistent contributor to the young Kings squad averaging over eight points a game and making 69 three pointers.
NBA D-League
On January 10, 2009, Greene was assigned to the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development LeagueNBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
. He was the first player the Kings had ever sent to the D-League. In his first game with Reno, he scored 26 points in a 93–91 Bighorns win over the Bakersfield Jam
Bakersfield Jam
The Bakersfield Jam is an expansion franchise of the National Basketball Association Development League that began play in 2006-07. It plays its home games at the newly-built Jam Events Center in Bakersfield, California, United States, which had been built as their practice facility...
. After performances of 14, 18, and 16 points in his next three games, he scored 28 points, with 14 scored in the final quarter, in a 117–103 win over the Utah Flash
Utah Flash
The Utah Flash was a team of the NBA Development League that began playing in 2007 and folded in 2011. They played their home games at the UCCU Center on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah...
on January 17. Greene was recalled to the Kings that same day.
Regular season
|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
| style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
| 55 || 4 || 13.2 || .326 || .260 || .853 || 1.6 || .5 || .3 || .2 || 3.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2009-10
| style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento
| 76 || 50 || 21.4 || .441 || .377 || .643 || 3.1 || .9 || .5 || .7 || 8.5
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2010-11
| style="text-align:left;"| Sacramento
| 69 || 21 || 16.3 || .404 || .292 || .662 || 2.1 || .7 || .5 ||.3 || 5.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Career
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 200 || 75 || 17.4 || .406 || .320 || .678 || 2.3 || .7 || .5 || .4 || 6.3