EAST LANSING — Tom Izzo said Michigan State basketball will retire Draymond Green's jersey on Dec. 3, when the top-ranked Spartans host No. 4 Duke in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Green will be the 10th MSU player to have his number retired, with his No. 23 the ninth number raised to the rafters. He joins Magic Johnson, Greg Kelser, Johnny Green, Steve Smith, Scott Skiles, Jay Vincent, Shawn Respert, Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson to have their jerseys retired. Johnny Green and Respert both wore No. 24. Former coach Jud Heathcote also has his name above Breslin Center's court.

“I was absolutely blown away when Coach Izzo informed me that my jersey would be retired at Michigan State,” Green said in a statement. “This is an honor that I don’t take lightly and, quite honestly, will be one of the major highlights of my career. I am so appreciative of everyone in East Lansing, starting with Coach Izzo, who provided an opportunity for this young kid from Saginaw to achieve my dreams and laid the groundwork that has enabled me to become a champion.

"It is simply awesome to think that my jersey will hang in the rafters along with the likes of Magic Johnson, Mateen Cleaves and Steve Smith, just to name a few of the iconic Spartans in our rich basketball history.”

[ Green sticking by his Warriors, MSU in 2019-20 ]

Green was the Big Ten player of the year and NABC national player of the year as well as a consensus first-team All-American as a senior in 2012. The 6-foot-6 forward averaged 16.2 points and 10.6 rebounds that season in leading MSU to the Big Ten regular-season and tournament title.

He also was an integral part of the Spartans' 2009 and 2010 Final Four teams, finishing his four-year career averaging 10.5 points and 7.6 rebounds in 145 games.

"He's a guy that's always made other people better," Izzo said Monday in announcing the honor. "I think that's what our program stands for. He's given me personally so much. ... It's been one of those relationships that's been second-to-none to me. To hoist his banner up there will be a special night."

A second-round pick of the Golden State Warriors, Green has blossomed into a three-time NBA All-Star and has won three league championships as he enters his eighth professional season.

Green donated $3.1 million to MSU in 2015, a record for a former athlete, and the Spartans' revamped weight room adjacent to their practice gym at Berkowitz Basketball Complex was renamed for the 29-year-old Saginaw native.

“Throughout all of his success, he’s never forgotten where he came from," Izzo said. "Michigan State and Saginaw have been very important parts to him. He wants to do all he can do I think for both parties, as evident with the money he gave here, with the things he's done up in Saginaw and going back and not forgetting where he came from. He's always talking to our players about helping them achieve what he's done."

Junior forward Xavier Tillman currently wears No. 23, and Izzo said it is unclear whether anyone else will be allowed to wear the number in the future.

Contact Chris Solari at csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Read more on the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.