Offseason Investment

Why Dominic Green spent his offseason in the gym // By Mason Kelley

By Washington Huskies

January 29^th, 2019

Curious about how Dominic Green spent his offseason?

It’s a short story. He was in the gym.

If he was having a bad day, he went to the gym. If he was tired, he went to the gym. If he was feeling good, the gym was his destination. If you needed to find the senior forward, he was probably getting shots up. He was in the gym for hours.

Every day.

“I just like to stay in the gym. It’s a way to let out some of the things that may be happening in my life. It’s a way to relieve stress,” Green said. “And I also really want to cherish this last year we have. I want it to be the best year we’ve had as a program.”

Green didn’t keep a complete count of the shot totals he amassed, but he was firing at least 10,000 shots a month. His goal: take 500 each day.

“I’ve seen that, if I put in the work and try to push myself, it will translate onto the court and I will be able to help my team, be able to push my teammates, stuff like that,” Green said.

He prepared each day with the understanding he was heading toward the finish. He didn’t want his final season of college basketball to end without investing maximum effort. He was determined to make Year 4 his best season.

Green’s career hasn’t always gone according to plan. There have been ups, downs and changes that have impacted both the player and the program. But Green never gave up. He never stopped working.

“There have definitely been a lot of ups and downs, but I wouldn’t take any of it back,” he said. “It’s all teaching lessons. I learn from every single moment. It just shows how, if you stick through things, you can overcome adversity and reap the rewards at the end as long as you keep working hard.”

When times were hard, Green focused on his path to Division I athletics.

“I just kept doing what I’ve done my whole life,” he said.

It wasn’t always easy, but Green kept working.

“There have been times where I thought I wouldn’t be playing basketball because it’s too tough, but I found it in my heart,” he said. “I love doing this. I don’t really want to do anything else, so I might as well keep pushing. It’s something I love to do, and if I love to do it, I’ve got to do it at 100 percent.”

Green explains his work ethic like this: If someone doesn’t work hard, they won’t see results. That creates frustration that can push someone to quit. The reward comes through investment.

“Times have been tough, but we’re starting to see brighter days,” he said.

Green’s goal this summer was to work until he hit the wall. Then he would try to break through it. And now here he is, a senior wanting to maximize each moment he has left in purple and gold.

“We’ve all seen tough times,” he said. “We’ve been through a lot of bad seasons. This is our last season. We (the seniors) have such a strong bond. We know what each other does well, so we’ll be able to play at a high level.”

When asked about last season’s transition to a new coaching staff, Green said, “It’s been nothing but great times, great memories,” he said.

In fact, Green credits coach Mike Hopkins for demonstrating the meaning of hard work.

“He’s just been a great mentor,” Green said.

The senior now understands the value of the confidence created through preparation. And, for Green, the belief he has in himself has never been stronger.