Josh Green Makes Bigger Impact Than Expected

Not only is he a very athletic and taller guard who plays excellent defensive, but Josh Green is what every team looks for in a “3-and-D” player. By trading away Seth Curry this offseason, Green could be in line to fill some of those minutes Curry leaves behind and once he gets going in the NBA, it may be hard for the Mavericks not to play their rookie. 

Besides his offensive abilities, Josh Green’s ability to play defense is why he could end up being so valuable to the Dallas Mavericks this year. His quick feet and reflexes make him a great perimeter defender who is great defending offensive players who tend to play one-on-one. On-the-ball, Green has the makings of being an elite NBA defender, but off-the-ball is where he needs to improve.

Offensively, Green averaged 12.0 points per game while shooting 36.1% from three-point range in 30 games with Arizona last year. The best part of his offensive game is his ability to attack off of screens, particularly in pick-and-roll situations. He is not the best ball-handler nor a great passer, but has the athleticism to be able to turn the corner on slower defenders and get to the paint with ease.

With Luka Doncic’s passing abilities to find his open teammates, Green could really benefit being the kick-out option when Luka drives to the rim. Tim Hardaway Jr. is the only returning player who had an impact on the win last season with the Mavericks, which means Josh Green could end up getting more playing time than many expected.

If he stands out early in the year and is given the opportunity to prove himself in this system, Josh Green could wind up having a really impactful rookie season, helping this Mavericks team exceed their expectations on the season.