Dallas Mavericks Josh Green: “We know what we are capable of”
So many special players in the NBA today have come from counties outside the United States and international basketball as a whole has seen tremendous growth.
Ben Simmons, Patty Mills, Joe Ingles and Andrew Bogut are all Australian-born players that have made it to the NBA, as is 22-year-old shooting guard Josh Green, who is in his third season with the Dallas Mavericks.
Born in Sydney, Australia, Green was drafted 18th overall in 2020 by the Mavericks and while he did not play much during his rookie season, the young guard has quickly turned himself into a key contributor on Dallas’ roster.
Making the Western Conference Finals a season ago, the Mavericks are once again a real postseason threat that can make some noise come time for the playoffs. However, very little separates teams in the Western Conference right now, which is why it is important for Dallas to have X-factors on their roster like Josh Green.
Before heading to The University of Arizona, his alma mater, during the NBA All-Star break to be inducted into the basketball program’s Ring of Honor, Green took some time to talk to Fastbreak on FanNation about the success he has found in his third season as a member of the Mavericks in addition to why he believes this team has a chance to be special.
Both of your parents played basketball in Australia and you were a highly skilled athlete growing up, but was basketball always your top sport and something you always wanted to pursue a potential career in?
Josh Green: 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. 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. Then my dad got a job opportunity in America and at first we declined it, but then literally right when I was about to quit basketball, we moved to America. From there, I realized that I needed to take basketball a little bit more seriously, especially given all the opportunities that presented themselves. That was the moment that I realized I wanted to pursue a career in basketball, but there was definitely a time within moving to America where I felt like I wanted to move back to Australia to play football.
When you came over to the United States with your family in 2014, what was the biggest adjustment for you not only in terms of your athletic career, but life in general since you spent all of your life prior in Australia?
JG: Just the basic things really. The schooling system was a lot different at first and not going to school with a uniform on was an adjustment for sure. In Australia, my childhood friends were the same friends I had in high school and all that, so moving to a new country, I am sure you can imagine what making new friends was like at first. That was the biggest part of the adjustment and it really is two different cultures. It took some time, but after a couple of years, I was able to figure it out, especially after I got to IMG Academy. Being at IMG helped me a ton since there were a lot of international kids in the same situation I was in. I really felt comfortable there and being at IMG helped me become a better athlete as a result.
A five-star prospect coming out of IMG, a national champion with IMG, an athletic and versatile wing with a ton of potential at Arizona and then being ranked as a first-round draft prospect heading towards the 2020 NBA Draft. When did everything hit you and you realized, “Wow, this is really happening isn’t it?”
JG: I think my senior year of high school was when that moment happened. That’s when I really started to realize playing professional basketball was a real possibility and I started to feel a lot more comfortable in my game. The idea of making a career out of basketball quickly changed from a goal to a potential reality for me. Finally being healthy and playing the best basketball I’ve ever played, that’s when I knew that I was ready to take that next step, go to college and show that I had what it took to get to the NBA.
The Mavericks took you 18th overall in 2020 and you were thrown into a very awkward situation right away just given the circumstances of the pandemic and the league coming off of having to play in the NBA Bubble in Florida. What were the biggest challenges you faced during your rookie season as a result of all the protocols that were in place?
JG: Everything about the pandemic was messy for everyone and there are people in other professions that faced much tougher challenges than I did, so I always tried to remind myself of that when things weren’t going well. 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. I was not able to see my friends and family and that made the year really hard for me mentally. Being able to get through that season though has made me a stronger player now, especially since I went through that as a rookie. Looking back at my rookie year, there are always things you can point to and wish you did better, but honestly, learning how to be a professional through all the pandemic protocols and the lessons I learned then as a 20-year-old have helped shape me into the person I am today.
Now in your third season with Dallas, what have been the main areas of focus for you in your development and what about your game stands out and makes you a key player for your team?
JG: My mindset on everything I do is that I’m always wanting to earn my spot and work for it. 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. This is my profession and I want to be able to do this for a long time, so I was willing to sacrifice the little things in order to get better in the offseason. I still saw my family and all that, but not before I worked on my game.
How has the city of Dallas helped you grow as a young man and what’s your favorite thing about the city?
JG: I love Dallas in general, it’s a great city. From the people to the fans to just the general feel of the area, there’s just so much to like here. The organization has been great to me early on in my career and Coach Kidd is very hands-on, which has helped me get better as a player in my individual and team workouts. The fans and organization truly want the best for me both on and off the floor, which speaks volumes to the character of everyone in the area. It’s just an amazing system to be a part of and even on off-days, it’s just a beautiful area to explore and learn about.
Head coach Jason Kidd preaches defense a lot and the Mavs have been known for being a great defensive team over the years, as this is where you have really thrived in terms of how versatile you are on the defensive side of the floor. Tell me, out of all the players in this league you have had to guard, who has been your toughest assignment?
JG: I think it’s really hard to narrow it down to just one. I’ve gone against a lot of great players in this league and from the best guy on the roster to the last guy on the roster, everyone is still a real NBA player. Just because you are not the best player does not mean you are not good at something, which is what makes every player in the NBA unique. It’s hard to just name one and single one person out because each player is difficult to go against in their own way. Every team in the league now has at least one superstar talent and it's a tough matchup every single night. I love the competition and love the fight presenting itself every game and I’m not afraid of any matchup that comes my way.
How has Coach Kidd aided you in your journey and development early on?
JG: He’s really helped me a lot. Obviously we had two different starts to our careers, but at the same time, he went through the same mental changes I did as a young player entering the league. Whether it is helping me out on the court, in practice, or in film, Coach Kidd is able to see things and help in my development because he played the game at such a high level for years. Seeing things from my standpoint, he is able to relate to me and teach me through his experiences. Not many players are able to learn from someone like this, which is why I am very fortunate to have him. He’s an amazing coach and a very good player’s coach because of his success in the league.
Are there any specific lessons or stories that he has told you from his playing days that have resonated with you?
JG: I think the biggest thing he always talks about is the fact that making mistakes is fine. Obviously you never want to make a mistake and this is not saying to just go out there and play freely, but Coach always talks about learning from the mistakes made. This is not always something you hear a lot from coaches and when I heard that for the first time, it actually made me realize that I don’t need to be perfect every single chance I get to prove myself. As long as I am playing as hard as I can and trying to do the right thing, he sees it as a positive if I was to then make a mistake. To me, that means a lot because I am young and the first thing that I am thinking of is never making a mistake. Having the confidence that he does in all of us is one of the main reasons why we have built such a great culture through the years.
Obviously your parents played a big inspiration in your life and your basketball journey, but who are some of the players you idolize growing up and/or have tried to mimic your game after?
JG: My favorite player, and the reason I decided to play and stick with basketball, was Kobe Bryant. Kobe was the reason I wanted to start playing basketball and I just simply wanted to be Kobe, as I am sure I’m not the only player in the league with this answer. I grew up wearing Kobe’s jersey and that’s why I wear the jersey number that I do. Obviously there are other players I watched growing up, but he was always my inspiration for playing. His mentality of always wanting to be the best version of himself and always taking pride in his work is why he has always been such an inspiration in my life.
Let’s talk a little bit about you and the Mavericks because you guys are once again one of the top teams in the West and I think it is safe to say that Luka Doncic has something to do with this wouldn’t you agree? We all know what kind of player he is on the floor, but what kind of leader is Luka behind the scenes and has he helped you develop at all early on in your career?
JG: Yeah, Luka [Doncic] is amazing. I’ve been extremely lucky to be with Luka my entire career. The strides he has taken as a player and also a leader are huge for our team. He has become such a massive reason for our success not just because of what he can do on the floor, but because of the leader he has become. He always holds all of us accountable and he does so in a manner that’s not hostile whatsoever. Everything is about winning and getting better together with him. It's always good to be around this as a young player in the league and his desire to win is something that positively affects and resonates with the rest of us. There is no doubt that Luka is the best player in this league and should win the MVP award. I’ll back that up one-thousand times and argue that with anyone.
So many are quick to point to the Nuggets and Grizzlies at the top of the conference as being the teams to beat and both the Clippers and Warriors also receive a ton of love as well in terms of being called "championship contenders." Why do you think people are constantly sleeping on you all and the Mavericks chances of winning a championship?
Everybody is entitled to their own opinions, but to be perfectly honest, none of us really care what people say about our chances of winning. We don’t read too much into all of this. We do have a relatively young team, but we have been able to build with the veterans on the roster by adding Kyrie [Irving] and these types of players. I think it is fine if people keep counting us out because we always play with a chip on our shoulders and this just adds more fuel to our fire. Once the All-Star break ends, everyone’s mindset is back to our one goal and that is competing for a championship, no matter what it takes. We did amazing things last year in the playoffs and now it is about being able to go one step further. We know what we are capable of and that is all that matters.
What has playing with Kyrie been like and what does it mean for you to be able to learn from a player of his caliber?
JG: Playing with Kyrie is awesome, it’s that simple. He’s a great guy, he’s a great leader and he’s been around the league on championship teams. Kyrie has really been able to help me out in the short time he has been here. If I make a mistake on the court, he is always positive about it and behind the scenes at practice, he’s taught me little things about the game from a perspective I never looked at. It is great to have another leader like him alongside Luka and you can tell that Kyrie is a winner. Whether it is diving on the ball or getting a rebound, he gives it his all every single night. It’s really cool to be able to play with him and when I was pursuing my dreams of playing professionally in high school, I used to watch him all the time when he had just entered the league. People can say what they want about Kyrie, but he’s a great leader, person and teammate.
The last six to seven games has been one of the best stretches of your career in terms of affecting the game in more ways than one. What has been the biggest adjustment for you with both Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith being traded and with you becoming a regular starter out on the wing?
JG: Obviously Do-Do [Dorian Finney-Smith] and Spencer [Dinwiddie] were my guys and they were great veterans for me. They both helped me out a lot outside of games with adjusting to life in the NBA and taking that next step as a man in life. Obviously I was sad from a personal standpoint to see them go, but that’s part of the business. They will always be close friends of mine. For me on the court, everything is about just not overthinking things. I am not going out there every night to try and impress a certain group of people and I am just simply playing basketball. I am a winning guy, so whatever helps the team win and whatever role they need me to play is what I am going to do. Sure, scoring twenty or more points is great and being a starter is great, but if we don’t win, it really doesn’t mean anything to me.
Nobody ever truly knows what will transpire at the NBA trade deadline, but time and time again, the Mavericks have not wanted to bring your name up in trade talks and the way you have been playing this season is why they have not wanted to give you up. What does it mean to you when you hear things like this and the praise your organization has for you?
JG: It means a lot more than people would imagine. It means wonders to me, as I am sure it would for any other player that can relate to this. 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. 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. Being with my guys and finding success together will help us reach our ultimate goals.
Looking down the line five to ten years from now, what do you want to accomplish in the NBA and what do you want people to remember about you?
JG: That’s a good question. You know, it is hard because my whole life I have always set goals and I still have personal goals I would like to accomplish, but for me, everything goes back to being the best player I can be. That may sound like the simple answer, but that’s truly who I am as a player. It’s hard for me to determine how good of a player I can be. Everyone has their own aspirations, but at the end of the day, I honestly think winning a championship is one of my top goals. Winning a championship in the NBA is the pinnacle of success as a professional basketball player. Hopefully winning a gold medal for Australia is also in my future. Those are the goals that keep me going and keep me ready to go every time I step foot on the floor. Making sure I stay in the present and I am ready for every single game is always at the front of my mind when I step in the gym or arena. 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.
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