Dallas Mavericks first-round draft pick, Arizona wing Josh Green, recently joined the K&C Masterpiece on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM] to talk about his new team and all things basketball. Here are some highlights:
On moving from Australia to the U.S. as a teenager…
Green: “I think it was a very tough decision as a family. Growing up in Australia, it’s a very safe place, very good to raise kids and everything like that. But for us, when I got to that age that I realized and my older brother realized that we wanted to take basketball to the next step and we wanted to have opportunities in basketball – I would say when I came off the plane in America, you don’t really realize that you’re actually moving countries until you’re off the plane. And I was off the plane in Phoenix like, damn, I really can’t go back now. So, for me, it was a moment where you get uncomfortable, but you learn from those situations. I’m grateful for my family being able to move over here and the opportunities which have come with it.”
Have you talked to Rick Carlisle yet, or know what the expectations are of you?
Green: “I think for me it’s being able to come in with a winning mindset and just playing as hard as I can, continuing to develop. I love working hard, and continuing to develop as a player and I think Dallas is a perfect system for me to do that. You know, continue to make sure that I’m playing defense, as hard a defense as I can, and doing whatever I can do to contribute and help the team out.”
Do you feel like your offensive skills get underrated?
Green: “Yeah, I think they’re underrated to an extent, but I feel like, for me, defense is a big part of the NBA game. A lot of players aren’t really willing to do that. I trust in my offensive skills a lot, and I’m ready to show what I can do.”
On the other two Pac-12 players the Mavericks drafted, Tyrell Terry and Tyler Bey…
Green: “Tyrell, he’s a great shooter. He was always one of the better shooters in the Pac-12 Conference. Had a high percentage, very confident in the way he plays. I think he’s going to be very good for the Mavs, whether it’s on the ball or off the ball, just being able to shoot the ball well. And obviously Tyler Bey, as well, who is also in the Pac-12, who is a great defensive player and a huge athlete.”
Do you have a favorite of all of the Mavs’ new uniforms?
Green: “The white and gold one I think is the nicest jersey in the NBA right now. I’m not going to lie to you, I saw it yesterday and I was just like, ‘oh my.’ It’s super cool. It’s really unique. I think I like the white and gold one – I just like all white, so I think that’s going to be super cool. And I think it’s going to be cool to wear a throwback jersey.”
What’s it like to see your name on the back of an NBA jersey?
Green: “It’s crazy. It’s a really unreal – it’s just crazy in general. It’s still really a surreal moment for me. Obviously, this year has been a crazy year, but it’s insane to be able to see my name on the back of a jersey. … Growing up and the closest you had your name to the back of a jersey was like 2K. Now, it’s actually like real. It’s crazy. It’s one of the best feelings, I think it’ll be really cool when I’m able to put the jersey on.”
On his short time as No. 0 as a Maverick, and the switch to No. 8 after the trade for Josh Richardson…
Green: “No. 0, I kind of wore it through high school [at] IMG Academy, my older brother wore it. I grew up watching Russell Westbrook at Oklahoma [City]. And so, I like No. 0 that way, and it just kind of runs in the family, me and my brother wearing the same number. But when it comes to a veteran taking the number, completely fine with it, wasn’t going to argue with it at all.
“But No. 8, I chose No. 8 because I started playing basketball in my front yard when I was a little kid always trying to be like Kobe [Bryant]. Used to have his jersey on all the time, I used to be doing the countdown for myself, getting ready to shoot a buzzer beater. So for me, I love No. 8. Kobe started his rookie year off with No. 8, and that’s one of the biggest reasons I play basketball today, so I think it’s cool to be able to wear that number.”
Listen to the full interview here.
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