Danny Green (14) is in his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty ... [+]
“Green” is more than just a last name for Los Angeles Lakers guard/forward Danny Green.
The two-time NBA champion is a proven advocate for community, sustainability and wellness. That’s why a partnership with Natreve, the world’s first certified plastic-neutral wellness and supplement company, was a perfect fit on both sides.
“I’ve done a lot of different things with community, going green, and not just making sure of improving the wellness of people and their bodies, but of the earth, too,” Green said. “Everything they’ve done is a lot of the same staples I’ve been emphasizing throughout my camps and in the community.”
As Green’s official health partner, the Canadian-based Natreve, which launched in September, will provide him with nutritional support during the 2019-20 NBA season, his first with the Lakers after signing a two-year, $30 million contract on July 6. Natreve will also provide wellness support to Team Green Basketball Camp.
“We were really happy to see how involved Danny wanted to be within our social initiatives and plastic reduction,” Natreve CEO Roland Radu said. “He represents everything we would want in not only an athlete, but also ourselves.”
OpenSponorship, which connects brands and athletes for sponsorship opportunities and marketing deals, facilitated the deal through its usage of social insights data and AI powered by IBM Watson. The company has facilitated more than 4,000 deals between athletes including Rob Gronkowski and Draymond Green and brands since its founding in 2014.
“Now more than ever, consumers are focused on clean eating,” OpenSponsorship CEO/founder Ishveen Anand said. “Brands who take stands on various issues are also growing in numbers, seemingly by the day. Being that Natreve provides vegan supplement products, and is fighting the world's pollution problem through its partnership with Plastic Bank, this is an ideal brand for a star athlete such as Danny Green to partner with.”
Green, who won NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs (2014) and Toronto Raptors (2019), said he understands the importance of a professional athlete—or anyone with a platform—to voice their opinion and speak out on important matters in an effort to further conversation and generate positive change.
Danny Green is a two-time NBA champion, winning titles in 2014 and 2019. (Photo by Harry How/Getty ... [+]
The 32-year-old former second-round selection is also already adjusting to life in L.A. and is looking forward to his first season with the Lakers. Los Angeles felt short of the playoffs in 2018-19, going 37-45 in LeBron James’ first year with the organization.
The Lakers are poised to change that, bolstering their roster ahead of this season by trading for Anthony Davis, signing free agents including Dwight Howard and Green, and re-signing players like Rajon Rondo and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
“I’m very excited,” Green said. “Our expectations are obviously to make the playoffs since we didn’t last year. Hopefully we win more than last year and go far in the playoffs. If we stay healthy, I think we have a good shot to do some special things this season.”
