The Dallas Mavericks are almost there. Almost ready to contend for a title, having fallen short in the Western Conference Finals playoffs after two consecutive first-round series exits.
But having taken one step towards the title last season, Dallas risks taking two steps backwards if it does fill the glaring hole left by Jalen Brunson’s exit.
Brunson linked up with the New York Knicks in free agency (four years, $104 million) this off-season.
It left the Mavericks without a clear secondary ball-handler to take the pressure off Luka Doncic.
Of course, Spencer Dinwiddie will now take on even more responsibility in the starting line-up as a result, but Brunson’s departure could also open the door for Australian Josh Green.
And if there is any season for Green to take that leap towards getting consistent, meaningful minutes it is this one.
“It’s been a big offseason for me,” Green said foxsports.com.au at the Basketball Without Borders camp in Canberra last week, where he was mentoring some of Asia-Pacific’s top male and female talents.
Less than a day after Dallas was knocked out of championship contention, Green was on the phone to Joe Abunassar – the founder of Impact Basketball, an elite training program in Las Vegas.
Green had seen increased minutes during the regular season, but it was a different story when the playoffs came around, with the Australian averaging just 7.6 minutes per game.
The heartbreak of largely watching that Conference Finals exit at the hands of Golden State on the bench left Green wanting more.
“That’s one of the biggest things for me,” Green said.
“It didn’t really work out at the end of last season but it helped me become motivated and ready to go.”
So Green went back to Abunassar, who he worked with in the months leading up to the draft back in 2020.
At that point Green was just an NBA hopeful, one of many talented prospects hoping to have their name called and their basketball dream realized.
This was a different Josh Green. He had already made it to the NBA, now it was about raising his game – and career – to the next level.
“The biggest thing for me this off-season was making sure my body was right, making sure the little things are just working out well for me,” Green said.
“I was able to cut down by body fat and overall it just helps a lot.”
Ball-handling and shooting were also a focus for Green, who is not sure at this stage whether he will see an increase in his minutes and responsibilities to the team in Brunson’s absence.
“It’s just a matter of waiting and seeing what happens,” Green said.
“Jalen is my guy and I wish him the best there.”
Brunson led the way for the Mavericks when Doncic was sidelined in their first-round series against the Utah Jazz, averaging 32 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists.
Losing the 25-year-old guard is hardly ideal, but Doncic has already proven himself of carrying the load and has even reportedly trimmed down this off-season.
Green does not know much about the story behind the ‘Slim Luka’ photos that sent social media into a spin but he did have good news for Australian fans of the Slovenian superstar.
A trip down under could be on the cards very soon if Green has his way.
“I’m trying to get him out to Australia,” Green said.
“We need to get him to Australia just to experience it.”
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