Josh Green: “We have to play with this high pace and this aggression”

After four years of loyal service in Dallas, punctuated by an appearance in the NBA Finals last June, Josh Green has packed his bags and is preparing to leave Texas for North Carolina. Before that, the bouncy Australian fullback will boldly play his Olympic chance with the Boomers in Paris.

Josh, what is your assessment of this Olympic preparation phase? Are you satisfied with the group's progress?

We had a good training camp. All the guys are motivated and ready to start the competition. (…) We have to continue to play for each other, and above all continue to push the pace. It is very important for us to play with this high pace and this aggressiveness. The staff often talks to us about it and that is the only way we can go far.

You have Jock Landale back from last summer, how much can his return help you?

It's good news for us, for sure, because it's very important to have a big man in the FIBA ​​game. He provides a presence that we need in the paint. He's been very good in our preparation phase and I hope it continues like that.

“It's a whole new culture that's taking hold in Charlotte.”

You were just traded from Dallas to Charlotte, what was your reaction when you left the Mavs, where you had been playing for four seasons?

Dallas will always be special to me because it's where I arrived after leaving Australia at a young age. It will always be one of the places I feel at home. It was a very good experience for me. Nico [Harrison] and J-Kidd gave me an opportunity that I'm not sure I would have gotten anywhere else at that age. I'm very grateful for them and for my time in Dallas. But that's the way the NBA business goes, I have to move on to my new opportunity with Charlotte.

What is your view on your new Hornets franchise, a team still rebuilding that missed the playoffs in the East?

I just think they have a really good group of young players and a good coach that's just come in, in Charles Lee. They have new owners too. [avec Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall]so it's a whole new culture that's happening there. I'm really excited to be a part of it and help create it, playing fast basketball.

How do you think you can integrate into this young group that is still in training?

I'm going to meet two guys I know in Grant [Williams] and Seth [Curry]. I know they're good leaders. But they're also great competitors. It's going to be great to have them back and play with them again. I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes.

Interview conducted in Orléans

How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.