Heartstopper to Showstopper: Jeff Green's Championship return from the brink of death

A champ
Integral part
Efficient
Dreams nearly gone
Appreciating success
A second life
How it started
Cardiac surgeon
Heart stopped
A scar
Second birthday
'Blessing'
'Living with the result'
This season
Close in 2018
'Died over this game'
A champ

After 16 years and 12 different teams, NBA veteran Jeff Green secured his first NBA title for the Denver Nuggets against the Miami Heat.

Integral part

His veteran leadership and basketball IQ were crucial in Denver's five-game victory over Miami, showing the young guys different ways to unlock a defense.

Efficient

Green went eight from nine in the finals, showcasing his ability to stay ready when the time comes and knocking down crucial shots.

Dreams nearly gone

Being an NBA champion and playing professional basketball was nearly seriously stopped in 2012 after Green underwent lifesaving heart surgery.

Appreciating success

It's when life is nearly taken away from you that you start to appreciate everything that happens to you, and Green summed it up after securing his first title, saying: 'This is what you live for.'

A second life

Here's how NBA champion Jeff Green nearly had his life taken away from him.

How it started

Before the 2011-2012 season, Green had a physical routine with the Boston Celtics when the team doctor discovered something majorly wrong with his heart.

Cardiac surgeon

The Celtics suspended his one-year contract and set him up with Dr. Lars Svensson, one of the world's finest cardiac surgeons, the man attempting to fix his aortic aneurysm.

Heart stopped

His surgery lasted for five hours at the Cleveland Clinic, with Green's heart-stopping for over an hour of the surgery.

A scar

Green's nine-inch scar has become a sense of pride, reminding him of how close he was to losing everything.

Second birthday

Since having his lifesaving surgery on January 9 th, 2012, Green now celebrates two birthdays, his original one on August 28th and his revival birthday on January 9th.

'Blessing'

According to sportsspectrum.com, Green said: "Every morning waking up and every night going to bed, I look at my scar. I tell the lord, 'Thank You' for the blessing that he's given me to keep living."

'Living with the result'

According to andscape.com, Green expressed: "I've been truly blessed to be able to step foot on this court, to play this game. Each day I give it my all, whether good or bad. I live with the results."

This season

Green was an important member of the Denver team this year, averaging eight points in 20 minutes on the floor for the new NBA champions.

Close in 2018

It's been some journey for Green, who came close to NBA stardom in 2018 with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, losing in the finals to the Golden State Warriors.

'Died over this game'

Green said: "To me, basketball is secondary. I had to really fight for my life. I almost died over this game."

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