Devonte Green deserves a final two months at IU without fans making it miserable

Indiana fans love to crap on Devonte Green.

There have been boos aimed toward Green at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, and Twitter feeds fill with unpleasant characterizations of his play every time he misses early in the shot clock or turns the ball over.

Green’s minutes have diminished over the past two games – from 26 per game over the previous five games to 14.5 during the last two.  He scored a total of three points while turning it over four times during games at Rutgers and Nebraska.

Fans see Green as a player who plays as a lone wolf – a practitioner of hero ball.  Indiana fans do not like hero ball.  That’s especially true when it fails.  Indiana fans prefer basketball as a five man endeavor where each player focuses more on lifting the other four rather than showcasing himself.

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Green doesn’t see himself as a me-first guy.  I assume his motives are to try to do everything he can to help Indiana win.  Fans see it differently.

When Green is good, like when he scored 30 in a win against Florida State, he’s great.  When he’s bad, like the game at Rutgers when he played 15 minutes without a point, assist or rebound but tallied two turnovers and several missed defensive assignments, he’s terrible.

That’s Devonte Green.

Here’s what is also true about Green – he’s a senior who has worked his ass off for almost four years to become the best basketball player he can be.  His end of the line as a college basketball player is staring Green in the face.

Just three years ago, Green had big dreams as a freshman who showed a smooth shot and great promise.  Now, Green has less than 20 games left, and his reality is not in the same neighborhood as those 2017 dreams.

Green’s brother Danny is an 11-year NBA vet with earnings that will total $82,693,631 after the 2020-2021 season.  Hopes of following in Danny’s footsteps have wilted and turned to dust.  It appears Devonte’s professional future lies in Europe, where money comes in smaller stacks than those lavished upon Danny.

These are not easy times for a young man falling short of the standards set by coaches, fans, and himself.

Regardless of your feelings about Green the player, it’s cruel to vent all over him on social media every time he misses a three, makes an ill-advised pass or dribbles the ball off his leg.  He’s a young man who doesn’t need your help to feel bad about who he is and what he does on the floor.  Just because Green is the cause of your discontent doesn’t mean he deserves your wrath.

College is not for those who have already figured it out.  Figuring it out is what college is all about.  Let’s understand the difficulties facing a 22-year-old young man who is still a work in progress, is dealing with dreams fading and wants nothing more than to succeed.

Let’s lay off Green on social media as he tries to finish his career strong.

Here’s an interview I did with Green before his junior season: