Everett, Wash.
Published: Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Devon Greene exploded on the scene

Explosion rookie guard Devon Greene torched the IBL for a record 754 points this season, but says the best is yet to come

By Aaron Lommers
Herald Writer

 MONROE -- During a recent game against Central Oregon, Devon Greene jokingly walked over and interrupted a conversation between the Central Oregon head coach and one of his players.

"They didn't like that too much," Greene joked later.

Maybe he was trying to give them some advice on how to stop him.

The Explosion guard took the IBL by storm this season, setting a league record with 754 total points and averaging 39.7 points per game. He capped off his season by scoring a franchise record 62 points in the Explosion's regular-season finale on Sunday. That goes along with seven games of 40 points or more and another 50-point game.

"I have always been able to score like that when I have an opportunity to play," Greene said.

Greene is the cornerstone of an Explosion team that went 9-11 this season and are the eighth seed in the International Basketball League playoffs, which begin tonight. Despite the eighth seed players and coaches alike believe the team is poised for a big playoff run.

"We feel like we are ready to take on the world, or at least the rest of the IBL," Greene said.

If the Explosion are to go far in this year's playoffs, they'll no doubt need a big contribution from Greene. The 6-foot-7 guard has the ability to shoot from the outside and slash past an opponent and penetrate the paint. His father, Kenny Greene, has been trying to get him to do more of the former.

"When you can shoot, sometimes you fall in love with shooting the ball," Greene said. "That's something that everybody has been working with me on. I guess it's a compliment because they think you can do it. They wouldn't be telling you to do it if they didn't think you could."

Greene, who has been playing basketball since he was 3, played his high school basketball at Moon Valley High School in Phoenix, Ariz. After high school he ended up at Boston College, where he said he wasn't part of the regular rotation on the Division I team. But he said he did have a memorable game in which he scored 10 points in 12 minutes to help send the game into overtime, where the Golden Eagles ended up winning.

After his freshman season, Greene ended up transferring to Fordham University and then to Grand Canyon University before ultimately leaving college early to pursue a pro career.

His first pro team was in the ABA with the Arizona Rhinos, where he met current Explosion head coach Chris Weakley. After Weakley took over as head coach of the Explosion this season, Greene joined him in camp. Greene said there are a few differences dealing with Weakley the player and Weakley the coach.

"The difference is in Arizona was he was a player so if he was yelling at you, you could just tell him to shut up," Greene said. "Now he's the coach so you really can't tell him to shut up. He's a good guy he just wants to win, I have nothing but respect for him."

Ultimately Greene hopes his play this year will give him a chance be noticed by NBA scouts.

"I just want to be the best player that I can be. You just got to work hard everyday and that should get you to the next level," Greene said.

Greene has never worked out for an NBA team before, but said he has heard of interest from a few NBA teams, including the Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors.

"Everybody needs someone that can score the basketball," Greene said with a smile. "One thing I would want them to know about me is I am not a finished product, I am getting better everyday."

Greene says there is an offer on the table to play in Mexico if nothing works out with the NBA teams.

When asked if Greene has a timetable for making it to the NBA, he responded quickly, "Yeah, I wanted to be in the NBA three years ago.

"There is nothing I can do but what I have been doing, which is just play hard."
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA