Khalid Green: The Net’s Right Hand Man

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Not many people can say they have a life like Khalid Green, however, most people would love to have his life. A former assistant at Lincoln and head coach at Bishop Loughlin, Green had a few great connections and picked up a job with the Nets. Green was very succesful with his high school teams especially on the recruiting end and winning end. He was offered a job as the New Jersey Nets Head of Scouting on the East Coast. Green took this job for many reasons. With the NBA Draft coming up we talked to an important man come Draft Night.

You were originally the Head Coach at Bishop Loughlin High in New York. How did you get get this job??I started off as a local aau coach in Brooklyn over 16 years ago on my summer breaks when I came home from Morehouse college. Immediately I loved the process of mentoring the youth in my community while engaging in a sport I loved. In 1996 and 1997, I took a grad assistance position at Long Island University (Brooklyn Campus). We were fortunate to get to the NCAA and NIT in respective years. At LIU I earned my Master’s degree in english. After my two years at LIU, I worked at Banneker, Loughlin, and Lincoln as an assistant coach. My first year at Lincoln HS as an assistant we won a city Championship. I brought Karron Clarke (Depaul) and Jamal Dart to Lincoln to play with Sebastian Tealfir. The next year I took the freshman job at Bishop Loughlin. The next season Ted Gustus resigned from the head varsity job at Loughlin. I interviewed for the job with about 6 other candidates and I was blessed to attain the position.

How were you offered the job of becomming a scout for the Nets? At Loughlin I secured a sneaker contract. Thanks to the help of Gary Charles (NY Panthers). I was asked to coach in ABCD camp. The structure of the camp featured high school coaches as assistants and the NBA scouts served as head coaches of some of the most talented high school players from the nation. Such players included Lebron James, Dwight Howard, etc…. I maintained several relationships with scouts I met at the camp. They explained their jobs to me and right away I felt it was “up my alley”. I had always been blessed with an eye for talent. I felt I would be good at scouting. About 4 years later, Mr. Bruce Ratner bought the Nets. Mr. Ratner had a prior relationship with my father and soon I was introduced to him. Here preparation met opportunity. After many emails, phone calls, and actual letters, Mr Ratner set up a sit down with first Mr. Ed Stefanski and then Mr. Kiki Vandeweghe who both served as GMs respectively. Both men gave me a chance to prove myself by doing consultant work after my highschool seasons were done in 2006 and 2007. In the year 2008 Kiki offered me the east coast scouting position which I greatfully accepted.

Why did you choose the Nets job over your head coaching job at Loughlin? Would Lebron choose St. Mary’s high school over the Cavaliers? lol Like a lot of little kids, I grew up dreaming about being in the NBA. At that time I thought I would play. Thank God I was not evaluating myself at 10!! lol Ultimately I chose this road because it was a career move that allowed me to evaluate talent at the highest level. It was an opportunity I was not willing to pass up!!

Who would you say was the best player you produced at Bishop Loughlin? I think Doron Lamb who is now at Oak Hill is the best talent I coached at Loughlin.

Are you planning on getting back into coaching again or will you retire as a scout? Great question!! I think I will always be a coach because it’s in my dna! However my goal at this moment is to keep learning my craft and working behind the scenes in the NBA. Ultimately I will allow God to lead my destiny. I hope that answers your question.

Is there any position or certain type of player that you are looking for in this year’s draft? We are looking for the best available player.

Do you think that last year’s draft was a success? Why? Last year’s draft was a success for us. We drafted Brook Lopez at #10. He made the NBA all-rookie team. CDR was a steal in the 2nd round and Ryan Anderson continues to improve and is a very good shooter. Big Kudos to my bosses!!

Do you enjoy working for Jay-Z? How often do you get to talk with him? There is a recession going on in America. I enjoy working PERIOD!! I am fortunate to be doing a job that I love to do. I have only met Jay once. However he is an icon in the borough of Brooklyn that I come from. Personally he is an inspiration for me and I love his music, so in that sense I am happy to be associated with the Jigga man!!

In your opinion, how long will it be until the Nets are making a lot of noise in the NBA? I hope very soon.

Will this year’s NBA Draft be a memorable one for the Nets? Why? I hope so…… Gotta stay tuned till Thursday to see why!

The 2009 NBA Draft shall be a good one and a very important one for a young Nets team that is surrounded by young talent. There are a lot of players they have worked out and Khalid has helped find and scout. This draft will be huge for Green and the rest of Nets ownership. We want to thank Khalid Green for the interview and wish him and the Nets the best of luck for the draft on Thursday.

Note- All interviews are done through Facebook/Myspace/Email/Call/Text/Etc. All people are REAL. No fakes here!

Thanks to the Daily News for the photo.