coach stopped practice and gathered his players at midfield near the end of Sunday’s fourth day of training camp. , the all-star forward and two-time champion, took over from there.
“He had a great message as far as guys being able to pick each other up and guys stepping up, especially in the tough situations,” Gase said.
Gase, a student assistant at , and Green, who played for the Spartans, weren’t at the college at the same time but they know each other because of their connection to the school and Dolphins owner Steve Ross.
“It’s a little bit of Michigan State, and he has some association with some of Mr. Ross’ people, and obviously Mr. Ross knows him really well,” Gase said. “It makes it easier for us to kind of be around the same circles.”
Green, well-known for his gregarious personality and sometimes eye-opening antics on the court, such as kicking star LeBron James below the belt in the 2016 NBA Finals and drawing a suspension, is also friends with Dolphins cornerback . The two were at Michigan State together and sometimes hung out.
“I don’t like Draymond,” Lippett said with a straight face. “He sucks.”
Then Lippett broke out in a big smile.
“No, that’s my guy, man, that’s my guy,” Lippett said, later adding, “I was on campus with him for a few years. I’ve always kicked it with him since we’ve both been in the league. I’m very happy for his success and things like that.”
Well, not always.
“He knows I’m a Cavs fan,” Lippett said of the Warriors’ bitter rival. “That’s my guy though, so I’m always rooting for him low key. Real, real low key.”
Green was in town for El Clasico Miami, the , which Barcelona won, 3-2.
A large contingent of Dolphins players also attended the match, including right guard .
“It was awesome,” Bushrod said of the match. “Great environment, great environment.”
Bushrod said he’s only been to one other professional soccer match and it was in New York, he thinks between Manchester City and Chelsea.
“They bring the energy from kickoff to the end of the game,” he said of soccer matches. “It’s exciting.”
Gase has had sports personalities attend practice and even address the team previously. Chip Kelly, the former Oregon and Philadelphia Eagles coach dropped by in the spring and last year former NFL wide receiver Wes Welker, who played for Gase in Denver, was a guest, as was future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton .
Green, in his brief appearance on the field at a Michigan State spring game, was different, however.
He’s no stranger to success having won an Olympic gold medal in addition to his NBA titles, and he’s been named NBA Defensive Player of the Year as well as being a multiple All-NBA selection and an NBA All-Defensive selection.
“He just came out here he just tried to pass wisdom,” Lippett said, “and being a champ and everybody pushing each other and becoming better leaders, and the people that’s following them, follow them. Make it happen. They’re leading us in the right direction and we all just have to come together and stay together and keep pushing each other until we compete and get a dub (victory).”
Bushrod, who played in Super Bowl XLIV with New Orleans, seemed to appreciate the message.
“Anytime a guy like that has something to say it’s probably in your best interest to listen because I’m a professional, he’s a professional, but he knows what it takes to get there,” Bushrod said. “I’ve gotten there once and I’m trying to get there again so whatever insight you can have or anything you can pick up along the way anytime you’re in this league you’ve got to take whatever you can, take whatever advice you can, and apply it to yourself or your team.”
; On Twitter