Fansided

Gerald Green drops the hammer on Charlotte Hornets

By Maxwell Ogden

Oct 23, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Miami Heat guard Gerald Green (14) against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Heat 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Miami Heat guard Gerald Green (14) against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Heat 93-90. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Miami Heat wing Gerald Green dropped the hammer on the Charlotte Hornets in this NBA season-opener.

The Miami Heat have one of the most overwhelming starting lineups in the NBA. Four of their five starters have received either an All-Star Game or All-NBA selection, and the fifth is per-48 star Hassan Whiteside.

With all of that talent, it’s easy to forget about Gerald Green and the high-caliber second unit.

Miami has constructed a bench worth fearing, and Green is one of the main reasons to be afraid. The 29-year-old scored in double-figures in both 2013-14 and 2014-15, emerging as one of the most dangerous shooters in the league.

In his first regular season game with the Heat, Green reminded the Eastern Conference of what made him famous:

Some players are dunkers; Green is an aerial artist.

Green has long been known as an incredible athlete, but it took four up-and-down NBA seasons and a stint in the D-League for him to find his niche. Even after rising to prominence in 2011-12, he shot just 36.6 percent from the field in 2012-13.

In two seasons with the Phoenix Suns, however, Green overcame inconsistent playing time to repair his reputation as an on-court contributor.

Green averaged a career-high 15.8 points in 28.4 minutes during the 2013-14 regular season. He received just 19.4 minutes of action per game in 2014-15, but still managed to put up 11.9 points per contest.

That’s good for an average of 22.0 points per 36 minutes.

For as far as he’s come as a player, Green’s appeal is, and always has been, his uncanny ability to tear the roof off of an arena with a jaw-dropping jam. He’s a human highlight reel who can kiss the rim and punish a defender’s self-esteem.

Miami got a regular season taste of that with this dunk.

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