“ I didn't ask any questions since we were winning. I tried to be the best teammate possible. I accepted the situation even if, at the same time, it's boring. If we win, that's fine with me. » Thus expressed Josh Green in October 2022, taking stock of its previous playoff campaign.
He had played a series of short-playing games without scoring a single point. Change of atmosphere two years later as he established himself as an important rotation in Jason Kidd's system.
An important role, but still reduced compared to the regular season. From an average of 8 points in 26 minutes per game, he went to around 5 points in 18 minutes. But the Sydney native is starting to get used to it: since the start of his career, he must have been a player in the shadow of Luka Doncic and the Texan leaders.
“ Honestly, it's complicated for everyone. But personally, I want to win first. It took me a while to get used to it and understand what I had to do to be on the field “, notes the Australian.
Work recognized by leaders
In this case, defend hard on the outside opposite, and convert 3-pointers when he has the opportunity. In these playoffs, he has more than 35% success rate in the exercise and could be valuable in these Finals with his defensive profile, to try to limit the Jaylen Brown – Jayson Tatum duo.
“ You can see guys like Kyrie and Luka like him. They are aware of the work of 'role players'. They know it's not like the role players can't do more, but we have Luka and Kyrie and there are certain things we have to do for our team to win. We are ready to sacrifice ourselves for the team. »
Personal sacrifices which allow this army of complementary players to find themselves only four rounds from a first career title. “ This is why we are in the final. Our goal is to continue to be a winning team, which means investing in your role. »
Ensuring the Mavs maintained the team's title-chasing approach throughout the year, Josh Green could become, along with Dante Exum, the first Australian to win the title since Matthew Dellavedova with the Cavs in 2016. The last representative of the country, active in the squad, to be invited to this stage of the competition was Andrew Bogut in 2019 with the Warriors.
“ It's something I've always dreamed of, since I was a child. When you make this journey to the final, you don't really have time to think about it. Now that I'm here and I'm getting ready, I'm ready », concludes the one who then intends to continue with the Olympic Games this summer.
| Josh Green | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2020-21 | DAL | 39 | 11 | 45.2 | 16.0 | 56.5 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 2.6 |
| 2021-22 | DAL | 67 | 16 | 50.8 | 35.9 | 68.9 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 4.8 |
| 2022-23 | DAL | 60 | 26 | 53.7 | 40.2 | 72.3 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 9.1 |
| 2023-24 | DAL | 57 | 26 | 47.9 | 38.5 | 68.4 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 8.2 |
| Total | 223 | 20 | 50.3 | 37.5 | 68.9 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 6.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
