Green is in the top three of nearly every statistical category for the No. 10 Spartans (13-3, 3-0 Big Ten), including third in assists.

“He’s about as good a passing big man as I’ve had,” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. “Usually, big guys have more turnovers than assists. His (assist-turnover ratio) is like off the charts the other way.”

Last year, Green never totaled more than three assists in a game. He’s surpassed that total in a game five times this year, including a career-high seven in the Spartans’ win against Texas-Arlington last month.

“I’m getting more comfortable as the year goes, and you start to do a little more,” Green said. “Coach is letting me make more decisions than I was at first.”

Green said a lot of his passing ability stems from when he played point guard growing up in Saginaw, Mich. Then, as he grew bigger at Saginaw High School, where he won back-to-back Class A State Championships, he would get double- and triple-teamed in the post. The need to find open teammates at that age has helped his vision on the floor as a Spartan.

“I take a lot of pride in it,” Green said. “I get more excited when I get an assist than when I score. I take it very seriously and when somebody misses a layup or something, I get mad.”

Noted as a player with an exceptional “basketball IQ,” Green’s court vision has made him a focal point of the Spartans’ offense and was a contributing factor in Izzo recently naming him a co-captain. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Green often can be found on the bench sitting with Izzo, learning from the 15-year head coach and teaching his teammates.

“I sit next to him because I’m always ready to go back in,” Green said. “I just try to stay next to him and he might look to the side and say, ‘See, you’ve got to do this with that,’ and then I try to go into the game and execute.”

With Green’s growing reputation for being a great passer, Lucas and Lucious have exchanged advice and jokes about racking up assists.

“He’s a four-man that can pass the ball,” Lucas said. “He made a pass to me (Thursday) around the back and I said, ‘Man, I better make sure I make this shot for him.’”