Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Rickey Green is a retired American professional basketball player renowned for his speed and playmaking abilities. Below is a comprehensive overview of his personal details and basketball career:

Player Profile

Personal Information:

  • Full Name: Rickey Green
  • Nationality: American
  • Date of Birth: August 18, 1954
  • Age: 70 years old
  • Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
  • Height: 6 feet 0 inches (183 cm)
  • Weight: 170 pounds (77 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 1 inch
  • Shoe Size: Size 11 (US)

Basketball Career:

  • Position: Point Guard
  • Jersey Numbers: 25, 24, 14, 11, 12, 9, 13
  • High School: Hirsch Metropolitan High School, Chicago, Illinois
  • College:
    • Vincennes University (1973–1975)
    • University of Michigan (1975–1977)
      • Led Michigan to the 1976 NCAA Championship game and the 1977 Big Ten Championship.
      • Consensus First-Team All-American in 1977.
  • NBA Draft: Selected by the Golden State Warriors in the 1st round (16th overall) of the 1977 NBA Draft.
  • Professional Teams:
    • Golden State Warriors (1977–1978)
    • Detroit Pistons (1978)
    • Utah Jazz (1980–1988)
    • Charlotte Hornets (1988–1989)
    • Milwaukee Bucks (1989)
    • Indiana Pacers (1989–1990)
    • Philadelphia 76ers (1990–1991)
    • Boston Celtics (1991–1992)
  • Career Highlights:
    • NBA All-Star (1984)
    • NBA Steals Leader (1984)
    • Scored the 5 millionth point in NBA history in 1988.
  • Championship Rings: None

Personal Life:

  • Children: Information not publicly available
  • Siblings: Information not publicly available

Player Archetype / Play Style

Rickey Green was a classic quick-twitch floor general, the kind of point guard whose archetype was built around pace, ball pressure, and table-setting rather than size or scoring volume. Defensively, he worked at the point of attack, using speed, anticipation, and active hands to bother opposing guards, disrupt passing lanes, and create turnovers, which fit with his reputation as one of the better steal producers of his era. Offensively, his role was to run the team, push tempo, get teammates organized, and create chances off the dribble, while still being able to chip in points when openings appeared. Physically, Green was listed at 6-foot-0 and 170 pounds, so his game leaned on burst, agility, and change of pace more than strength. In simple terms, he played like an old-school lead guard who could speed a game up, pressure the ball, and keep an offense moving with quick decisions and constant motion. (Basketball Reference)

Sources:

Rickey Green Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and More — Basketball-Reference
Utah Jazz single-season steals per game leaders — NBA.com
Season Review: 1983-84 — NBA.com