After a workout with his team, the 6-6 Aussie was told to head next door and meet with the accounting team due to some outstanding debt. Needless to say, Green wasn’t exactly thrilled when he noticed about 50 employees standing outside of the Mavericks business offices.
Then they started to clap and cheer.
“I honestly had no idea what was going on today,” Green said, looking around at the scene and taking in the moment. “They told me I had to meet with accounting and I was like, damn, because I thought I was on top of that. But yeah, it was really cool. I was definitely surprised.”
The Dallas Mavericks family — along with jersey patch sponsor Chime — came together on Monday afternoon to surprise Green with an Aussie-themed celebration after his country’s historic run at the Tokyo Games.
He said it was a dream come true to land a spot on the 12-man roster and represent Team Australia.
The achievement was even more remarkable because it was the first-ever men’s basketball Olympic medal for the Boomers.
“The Olympics is one of those things where you can’t turn it down,” Green said. “For me, it’s way bigger than just basketball. Growing up when I was 8 years old, 10 years old, whenever the Australian team would play any sport, I’d wake up at 4 in the morning and watch them.”
Chime helped create the festive atmosphere and the financial technology company donated $2,500 in Green’s name to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas.
Green said that was the highlight of the afternoon for him.
“It’s all about the kids for me,” he shared. “The Mavs know that I care about giving young people the same opportunities that I had growing up. So I think it’s just awesome for (Chime) to donate in my honor. I just want to be able to do my part and help out.”
Mavs’ CEO Cynt Marshall said the franchise loves to celebrate life with the players and coaches and Monday was just the first of many exciting events planned for the future.
New Mavs guard Frank Ntilikina helped France to a silver medal at this summer’s Tokyo Games and longtime Mavs’ trainer Dionne Calhoun picked up gold with Team USA.
“We wanted to do something special today to honor you,” Marshall told Green as she presented him with a framed photo in his Australian jersey. “Thank you for representing your country well and thank you for representing the Dallas Mavericks. We’re so proud of you.”
Marshall also gave a shoutout to Mavs head coach Jason Kidd, who is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He was on hand for Green’s celebration along with Michael Finley and many of the Dallas Mavericks players and team executives.
Green was just 13 years old when he boarded an airplane at Sydney Airport with his family and set off for America. He was flanked on both sides by his parents, two brothers, Jay and Ky, and sister Maya. (Click here to read about his journey to the Mavericks).
It was a decision that was tough at the time, but ultimately paid off for the Green family and Josh’s desire to someday play professional basketball.
His parents, Cahla and Delmas, both played professional hoops in Australia, but they never pushed him to play basketball.
By the age of 10, Green had made state in nine sports, but there was something really unique and special about him when he picked up a basketball. His parents quietly noticed it and at age five, Cahla started coaching her son in the sport that would eventually lead him to Dallas.
After competing in his rookie season with the Mavs, Green was thrilled when he became an Olympian this past summer so early in his career.
“It’s something that still doesn’t feel real to me,” he said. “I was talking to my mom…and the whole emotions of my family when I told them I was representing Australia, you can’t put it into words. Being around athletes who you watched as a kid and aspired to be, it’s awesome. And you can’t take it for granted.
“I think just being around the whole environment of the Australian team in general is awesome. It helped my basketball and helped me off the court. The Olympics, it’s just cool to be around all the best athletes in the world and being able to experience that at the age of 20.”
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