Gerald Green - is an American professional basketball player. He is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Boston Celtics with the 18th pick of the first round in the 2005 NBA Draft. He is best known for his dunking ability, having won the 2005 McDonald's All-American Slam Dunk Contest and the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, while finishing as the runner-up in the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Foto: Gerald Green, NBA

Over the off-season, Green aimed at improving all aspects of his game in order to gain playing time. He had shown flashes of his capability during the end of the 2005-2006 season, but started off the 2006-2007 season slowly, earning a somewhat limited role and playing time behind captain Paul Pierce, and swingman Wally Szczerbiak. With injuries to Szczerbiak and Pierce, his playing time increased, but he has been unable to nail down a starting role. Green started his first ever game early December against the Philadelphia 76ers, but then lost his job to a returning Szczerbiak. Green finished the 2006-07 season averaging 10.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.

On February 17, 2007, Green won the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, beating out Nate Robinson, Tyrus Thomas, and Dwight Howard. On July 31, 2007 it was made official that Green was to be traded along with Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair, and draft picks, to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Garnett.[3]

At Minnesota, Green found himself stuck on the bench behind a number of players at his same position. In early January 2008, Green's agent asked the Timberwolves to trade his client. At the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest, Green opened the competition with a dunk he called "The Birthday Cake" in which he blew out a birthday candle on a cupcake set on the back of the rim while dunking. He followed that up with an alley-oop two-handed windmill. His first dunk of the second round was an alley-oop from behind the basket which he put between his legs before dunking. His final dunk of the night was a between-the-legs one-handed slam that he performed after taking off his shoes. He ended up finishing second to Dwight Howard, after Howard received seventy-eight percent of the votes cast by fans through text message.


On February 21, 2008, Green was traded to his hometown team Houston Rockets for Kirk Snyder, a second round draft pick, and cash considerations. Green will become an unrestricted free agent in July. On March 8, the Rockets released Green.
 

Защитник «Миннесоты» Джеральд Грин в интервью каналу FOX 26 Sport заявил, что обменян в «Хьюстон» на защитника Кирка Снайдера и право выбора во втором раунде драфта этого года. «Это как мечта. Никогда не думал, что в моей жизни может такое произойти. Я на девятом небе», - радовался Грин своему возвращению в родной город в интервью техасскому каналу (февраль 2008 года).