Danny Green- On Being "Cut"

It's been said that the San Antonio Spurs are old.  This year, the Big Three of Duncan, Parker and Ginobli have proved many wrong by reaching the NBA Finals.  Even back in the 2007 Finals, people thought the Spurs were old.  Ginobli recently joked "We've been old for probably eight years now."  I'm grateful for our seasoned Spurs and excited about our young guys too!

The beauty about the Spurs is that Coach Pop is so keen on developing young players.  Take Danny Green.  Who doesn't remember his smile as big as the state of Texas as Green hit just one more shot from downtown in Game 3 of the Finals?  He ended the night with a game-high 27 points, a performance that went beyond his wildest dreams.

Green was twice cut by the Spurs and questioned whether he had a future in the NBA.  He was cut by Cleveland less than a year after drafting him.  Coach Popovich said that Green struggled with confidence issues in his early days.  When asked what advice he gave Green, Popovich said "Helping him believe that he belonged.  Not getting down if things didn't go well, to continue to push and to work.  And to Danny's credit, he's done that.  He's a pretty confident young man right now." 

Maybe you've experienced feeling "cut" in your life more than once like Danny Green.  Being "cut" can represent those times in your life when we feel beaten down, rejected and not wanted by the very people or organization we want to be associated with.  This can affect us more profoundly than we care to admit.  Who hasn't felt this in some form or fashion?  Not getting the promotion.  Not making the team.  Feeling left out.  Not wanted.  Even deeper than the actual being "cut" is the feeling of rejection.

Rejection can either destroy us or catapult us forward to see things through God's eyes.  Rejection can either make us give up or become determined to press in and work harder.  Rejection can allow us to become bitter or learn the beauty of humility.  Rejection can lure us to think negatively about ourselves or it can keep our heart pliable and dependent upon God.  It's a choice for each of us as to how we respond when being "cut."

Do you get it?  Being "cut" isn't always a bad thing.  God can take those painful experiences and transform them into a beautiful better new you.  Will you let him?  Go Spurs Go!

Nancy Abbott serves as Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.