LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 29: Danny Green #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after shooting a three point basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 29, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Danny Green called out “bandwagoners” who have relentlessly criticized his play throughout the playoffs.
Lakers shooting guard Danny Green has faced his fair share of criticism after a string of rough outings in the NBA bubble, but the 33-year-old appears to have had enough with Lakers fans calling him out.
Green spoke extensively on his podcast about the hate that he was received for his subpar play and called out those piling on as “bandwagon fans,” saying that if they truly supported the Lakers, they would root for him to improve rather than attempting to tear him and the team down.
Green acknowledged that the Lakers have struggled at times in the bubble, and his shooting has been concerning. He shot above 40 percent from the field just once in the first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers and scored in double figures just twice. Against a better opponent, such a shooting performance could have threatened to sink the Lakers.
Danny Green’s playoff struggles are nothing new.
The veteran shooting guard went through similar tribulations in last year’s playoffs, per Basketball-Reference, disappearing at times for the eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors. Although he had a few solid performances, including an 18-point outing in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Green had plenty of games where he failed to score in double figures, including four games in which he did not score.
While the Raptors were able to overcome Green’s struggles and win a championship, the Lakers do not have the same depth along the perimeter. Players like Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet picked up Green’s slack, but the Lakers brought him in as a free agent to provide a scoring jolt at the three-point line.
Without another real sharpshooter on the roster, Green needs to step up, and while some of the criticism that he is receiving may be harsh, he is not playing at the level that the Lakers need him to. Until he takes a long look at his play and corrects his shooting stroke, the hate is not likely to stop.