Mavs' Josh Green Proving He Is Capable Of Taking Next Step In NBA Journey
Moving from one state to another as a kid is a massive life-altering event given the change in education, friends and lifestyle. Moving from one country to another as a kid is an even greater culture shock.
This is exactly what Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Green went through growing up, as he and his family moved from Australia to the United States when he was 14-years-old. With both of his parents playing basketball in Australia, Green was always around the game he would wind up pursuing a career in, but that was not always the case.
“I was introduced to basketball early on, but my family has always steered me to do what I wanted to do whether that was soccer, tennis, whatever,” Green told Fastbreak on FanNation in an exclusive interview recently. “I tried a lot of sports when I was younger and I think I played about 12 different sports, including basketball. As I got older, I actually thought Australian football would be my main sport and I was about to quit basketball at one point.”
However, when his family moved to the United States, basketball became Josh Green’s main sport and area of focus. Attending IMG Academy, Green became a 5-star college prospect and he led IMG to a national championship victory in 2017 against La Lumiere, another high-end prep school. Green was named the MVP of this game.
Deciding to attend the University of Arizona, close to where his family had moved to in Phoenix, Green made an immediate impact and drew the attention of many NBA scouts because of his athleticism and defensive potential on the wing.
Ultimately spending one year in college, Green declared for the 2020 NBA Draft and was selected with the 18th overall pick by the Mavericks. Josh Green entered the league though at a very strange time, as the season had been delayed and the world as a whole was in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Being thrown into this kind of position with all the protocols and the limited time you could spend in certain places, it was hard, I’m not going to lie,” Green said. “I was not able to see my friends and family and that made the year really hard for me mentally.”
All of the extra protocols and limited practice time negatively impacted a ton of young talents entering the NBA ahead of the 2020-21 season. Playing in just 39 games during his rookie year, Josh Green looked like any other 20-year-old entering the league at a weird time. With plenty of room for growth though and a surplus of coaches that truly believed in him, this was just the start of something special for the young guard.
Josh Green is now in his third season with the Dallas Mavericks and he has been having the best year of his young career. Playing in 44 total games, eleven of which he has started in, Green has averaged 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting a career-high 42.3 percent from three-point range. He did miss some time earlier in the season due to an elbow injury, but when he has been healthy, Green has been a high-impact player for the Mavericks.
“My mindset on everything I do is that I’m always wanting to earn my spot and work for it,” Green explained. “Being a hard-worker in life sets you apart from everyone else and no matter the situation, I’ve always been the type of person to take pride in the way I push myself. Going into this past summer, my goal was to flip the switch and find a way to prove to my team that I was ready to contribute at the highest level possible because I knew I was capable of more than the product I put out during my first two years.
“Everyone always wants to go on vacation at the end of the season and take a break, but my whole thing was staying in the gym and figuring out ways to help my team win heading into the new season.”
The work Josh Green put in during this past offseason has paid off and it is very clear to see the improvement he made in his game, not just as a three-point shooter on the wing alongside superstar Luka Doncic, but he is stronger and able to guard more positions as a result.
The Mavericks are currently 33-31 on the season and with just 18 games left, they are right in the middle of the Western Conference standings. Just a few games separate 4th place in the conference from 11th place, which is why every game matters a little bit more right now.
Obviously playing to the best of his abilities when he is called upon is Josh Green’s main focus right now, but he is still only 22-years-old and the Mavericks are looking to continue developing and molding him into the player they need him to be long-term.
At the trade deadline, Dallas searched for ways to improve their championship outlook and while Green’s name has come up time-and-time again in trade rumors, the Mavericks have been unwilling to move him. Adding superstar guard Kyrie Irving at the deadline, Dallas got the upgrade they were looking for and they were able to keep Green in the process.
“To know that you are wanted and they want you to continue to be with them is a very satisfactory feeling that makes me want to be better and strive for more,” Green stated in regards to the Mavericks not wanting to trade him through the years. “However, anything can change at any time in this league, which is why I have to remain humble when I hear things like this. I am so grateful to have this opportunity to play for such a great organization and my main goal is to treat every game the same and come in with the same level of motivation to play every single night.”
The grit and grind of the NBA season and not always seeing consistent minutes can break down many young players, but not Josh Green. Whether he scores 20 or more points or doesn’t score at all, Green’s mindset has always been consistent and his production has increased as a result.
Since the trade deadline, Josh Green has seen his minutes increase rapidly and he is now a key part of the Mavericks’ nightly rotations. Hitting a big three-pointer from the corner and being one of the team’s top defenders is what Green is known for now.
Like everyone else on the Mavericks roster, he has one goal in mind moving forward: winning a championship this season.
“Winning a championship in the NBA is the pinnacle of success as a professional basketball player. That’s the goal that keeps me going and keeps me ready to go every time I step foot on the floor… I’m extremely fortunate to be able to play the game I love at the highest level possible and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds for me and my teammates.”
Be sure to catch up on the newest episode of The Fast Break Podcast hosted by Fastbreak's own Brett Siegel!
Streaming on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, The Fast Break Podcast takes you inside the league with the latest news, intel, rumors and interviews from those close to the action for all 30 teams. Be on the lookout for a new episodes every Friday.
