A.C. Green Heads Back To L.A.

A power forward with NBA championship rings is returning to the Los Angeles Lakers, and he bears little or no resemblance to Dennis Rodman.

A.C. Green, who hasn't missed a game in 12 years and who plans to become a minister when he retires, is rejoining Los Angeles, where he played his first eight NBA seasons.

The 36-year-old Green, who holds the NBA record for consecutive games at 1,028, was acquired Wednesday by the Lakers in a trade that sent Sean Rooks to the Dallas Mavericks.

Green averaged 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds for Dallas last season. Rooks was with Los Angeles for three years, averaging 2.7 points and 2 rebounds in 36 games last season.

Green won two NBA championship rings with the Lakers in the 1980s.

On a team that featured Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Green led the Lakers with 7.8 rebounds a game in their 1986-87 title season, then averaged nine rebounds as they repeated as champions.

He signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns in 1993. The Mavericks acquired him in a trade in December 1996.

"Knowledgeable fans are well aware of the skills that A.C. Green will bring to this team," Lakers vice president Jerry West said in a statement. "He's a solid rebounder and defender and does a lot of little things that don't show up in the box score but help you win games."

"He also brings intangibles such as experience, character, professionalism and veteran leadership that will help us both on and off the court."

Said Green: "It's good to be back home again and back in our community. Hopefully I'll be able to help the other players with their knowledge and understanding of the game, and help us advance farther in the playoffs."

The 6-foot-9 Green has career averages of 10.4 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Rodman, who played briefly for the Lakers last season before his erratic behavior led them to release him, said recently he hoped to play for Los Angeles again. West, however, said that wasn't likely.

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