"He told me he never slept for more than two hours a night" - A.C. Green supposedly battled with chronic hiccups throughout his career

One of the most inspirational stories about durability in sports history is A.C. Green playing 1,192 consecutive regular-season games. Aptly named " Iron Man ," he played 16 seasons in the NBA, securing three rings with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Despite his iron will, Green still suffered from some health issues throughout his playing career. One of those he may have endured that he never confirmed was singultus or chronic hiccups. According to a certain Gerry Feldlawn, a supposed former Phoenix Suns assistant locker room attendant, the retired power forward had an unspoken agreement with people aware of his condition to keep it private to avoid embarrassment.

"I can't believe I'm the first person telling it," Feldlawn said . "But in my mind, there's never been a tougher player. He told me he never slept for more than two hours a night, and boy, some days you could just see the absolute weariness in the man's eyes."

Green's rare case

If it was true that A.C. couldn't get a good night's rest because of his condition, the fact that he barely missed games and averaged 9.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per contest while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field makes his performances more impressive.

Moreover, the Oregon native also has an All-Star starting nod on his resume. However, that may have resulted from Los Angeles fans doing everything possible to have as many representatives in the midseason showcase as possible.

Perhaps if the Lakers faithful had known of Green's condition, he would have made more appearances in the All-Star Games as a starter when he suited up for the franchise from 1985 to 1993. According to the National Institutes of Health, fewer than 50,000 Americans have the disease, making it quite rare.

Related: Larry Bird comments on Heat's Big 3 losing to the Mavs in the 2011 NBA Finals: "Ball movement always beats individuals going one-on-one"

Green's fame

It's unclear, though, when Oregon State University started having these issues. After playing for the Lakers, he spent two-and-a-half seasons with the Suns. He also suited up for the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat at some points in his career.

Green continued to be in the limelight even after hanging up his sneakers in 2001. In addition to his remarkable streak and the fact that he missed only eight games throughout his NBA stint, he also gained popularity for his choice to remain celibate until marriage.

The one-time All-Defensive Second-Team selection eventually became a married man in 2002. Given that he was proud of being a virgin bachelor until his late 30s, perhaps the story of his chronic hiccups is a work of fiction. Why would he be ashamed of such a disease when he had no qualms about being ridiculed by some people for his conviction?

Related: “When you look at A.C. Green, you see his energy, his enthusiasm” – Pat Riley explains the Lakers selection at the 1985 Draft