A.C. Green did many things worth remembering during his extensive 16-year NBA career. He was a three-time champion and a key cog of the Showtime Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s, a one-time All-Star and a member of the league's All-Defensive Team in 1989.
Most importantly, Green holds the NBA record for most consecutive regular-season games played with 1,192. Unfortunately for the 6'9" power forward, whenever his name is mentioned, none of his basketball plaudits immediately come to mind.
Instead, he is best remembered for remaining celibate throughout his career, a remarkable feat given the carnal temptations that usually distract NBA players. However, his Lakers teammates, led by superstar guard Magic Johnson , certainly did their best to break Green's resolve.
A.C. was a born-again Christian whose commitment to his faith never wavered throughout college and the NBA. The fact that he abstained from sex despite being surrounded by gorgeous women who virtually threw themselves at the Lakers players was absolutely mind-blowing.
Green, though, explained that he wasn't naive when it came to sex. However, he was resolute in his belief that the only time he could engage in that was within the confines of marriage.
"I am curious [about sex]. But not curious enough to go to the violation point. I figure God created it, so it must be good. But he has created it to take place at a certain point of time – within the confines of marriage," he shared in an interview with Sports Illustrated.
However, Magic was relentless in his bid to break A.C. And during a road trip through San Antonio and Dallas , he announced to the entire team that he would wager that Green would no longer be a virgin within two months.
"Once you start seeing these girls around the NBA. You won't be thinking any of that Christian and God stuff," Magic said in Jeff Pearlman's "Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s."
"Really? You think so?" A.C. confidently responded.
As they continued their conversation on the bus, Magic soon took his cap off and passed it from one teammate to another. Before long, the cap already had $300 in it.
"We'll give you two months, and you'll be done. Two months," Magic proclaimed. "You don't get laid once in two months, the money's yours. But there's no f—king way…"
A month after that wager was made, the Lakers were in Portland to battle the Blazers when A.C.'s teammates got excited when they saw him talking to a beautiful woman after the game.
"I saw all the guys sorta looking over, wondering what was going on," Green shared.
"Finally, someone comes over and says, 'Hey, rookie, who is this?'" Green continued. "Oh, meet Vanessa. My sister."
Green's streak finally ended on a pleasant note in 2002 when he married his wife, Veronique. However, the resolve that he showed throughout his career was noteworthy, given the pitfalls professional athletes encounter every day. No matter the temptations, Green stood his ground, much like how he stood up to the likes of Larry Bird, Charles Barkley or any other offensive great of that era.
Related: How Magic Johnson convinced Larry Bird and Michael Jordan to join the Dream Team
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
