A.C. Green
Iron Man of the NBA
A.C. Green Jr. (born October 4, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Iron Man", he holds a National Basketball Association (NBA) record for most consecutive regular-season games played with 1,192. Green played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat. He found most success with the Lakers, with whom he won three championships in 1987, 1988 and 2000, and was named an NBA All-Star in 1990.
- Role
- Power Forward
- Era with Lakers
- 1985–1993, 1999–2000
- Championships Won
- Three (1987, 1988, 2000)
- Consecutive Games Record
- 1,192 games played without missing a contest
- All-Star Selections
- 1 (1990)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Green was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, attending Benson Polytechnic High School and Oregon State University. He was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. He is a devout Christian and known for proclaiming that he began and ended his NBA career as a virgin bachelor. He established the A.C. Green Youth Foundation in 1989.
In Their Own Story
On November 20, while playing for the Dallas Mavericks against Golden State, Green reached a historic milestone by playing his 907th consecutive game, surpassing Randy Smith's mark of 906 to become the league's all-time iron man. He continued this marathon until March 13, 1999, when he played his 1,000th consecutive game against Vancouver. After a brief stint in Dallas where he tied Shawn Bradley for the team lead in rebounding (8.1 rpg) in 1997–98, Green returned to Los Angeles on September 1, 1999, traded back for Sean Rooks and a 2000 second-round pick. In this final Lakers run, he guided the team through a grueling playoff path: defeating the Sacramento Kings in five games in the first round, his former team the Phoenix Suns in five games in the second round, and the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals. He capped off his career by defeating the Indiana Pacers in six games to secure his third championship in 2000. His streak finally ended on April 18, 2001, with a Miami Heat victory over the Orlando Magic.
Reader's Guide
Green left the Lakers in 1993 to sign with the Phoenix Suns as a free agent. He was traded back to the Los Angeles Lakers on September 1, 1999, for Sean Rooks and a 2000 second-round pick. He played his final NBA season with the Miami Heat.
Did You Know?
- Green never missed a class in his educational career.
- He wore a green bear on his head while on the bench during games in 2000 to promote his foundation.
- His streak of 1,192 consecutive games began on November 19, 1986, and ended on April 18, 2001.
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