The Lakers’ Danny Green threw down the best dunk of his career Sunday night. His reward? A “random” drug test.
Danny Green of the Los Angeles Lakers is not known for his athleticism. Not that he isn’t athletic, but he’s best known for spacing the floor, knocking down timely 3’s on catch-and-shoot opportunities, and frustrating opponents with his perimeter defense.
On Sunday night against the Hawks, though, Green unleashed a monstrous dunk, flying in from the perimeter and coming seemingly out of nowhere to run past and leap over several other players in order to put back a missed 3 by LeBron James.
However, just as all clouds have their silver linings, all rays of sunshine cast their shadows and Danny Green’s newfound dunking prowess did not go unnoticed by NBA fans nor by the league itself. Green tweeted yesterday that he was surprised by a random drug test following the game against the Hawks in which he dunked so skillfully. It is likely just a coincidence, but considering the NBA’s apparent newfound vigilance regarding PEDs, maybe it’s not?
The NBA has appeared to take drug testing a tad more seriously early this season. Already, they have handed down lengthy extensions to promising young stars such as Deandre Ayton and John Collins.
Of course, perhaps it’s less a newfound desire to actually enforce previously enacted statutes and more a case of players getting more careless or flagrant in their use of banned substances.
Either way, in light of Danny Green’s laugh-crying emoji and the lack of any news about a suspension, it appears that Green’s dunk was not aided by anything besides his own basketball IQ and veteran savvy.
In spite of his modest numbers, Green is a pivotal player for Los Angeles and Lakers fans throughout the world are sure to be delighted they don’t have to worry about losing him for carelessly taking a diuretic anytime soon.