BOSTONJeff Green will not be sprinting up and down the court for the Boston Celtics this season. Alley-oops from Rajon Rondo?
Not happening.
An aortic aneurysm will keep the power forward out for the entire 2011-2012 season, which also means the 9 million contract Green signed with the Celtics has been voided.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
In Doc Rivers' eyes, none of that makes him any less of a teammate.
That was quite obvious on Thursday as Green took a few jumpers at the end of the Celtics practice, which apparently wasn't the first time he has been around the team since it was determined that he would not play this season.
"He's part of the team," said Celtics head coach Doc Rivers. "Jeff's hopefully going to get a (championship) ring. He'll be there, just like everyone else."
Green is scheduled to undergo surgery on Jan. 9 -- a month to the day from when the Celtics and the medical staff from New England Baptist Hospital determined there was an irregularity in his physical.
After consulting with additional doctors, their original findings were confirmed.
Green, who declined to speak with the media on Thursday, has a kindred spirit of sorts in teammate Marquis Daniels.
Like Green, Daniels knows all too well what it's like to suffer a season-ending injury.
Daniels spoke with CSNNE.com recently about what's necessary for a player to handle such a difficult situation.
"As long as everybody's around, keeping his spirits up, he'll be fine," Daniels told CSNNE.com.
It appears Green understands this, evident by him essentially doing the same off-the-court things he would be doing this time of year if he were with the Celtics.
"Jeff's our brother, we want him around," said Kevin Garnett. "What he's about to go through, none of us have been through. What he's about to go through is definitely life-changing. And we want him around. We don't know what the future holds for any of this, but it's good to have him around."