Mavs' Josh Green Ankle Injury Update Before FIBA World Cup

The Australian national team offered a new update on the injury status of Josh Green ahead of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

During Australia's exhibition 78-74 victory against France on Saturday, Dallas Mavericks wing Josh Green saw his performance end in the second quarter after sustaining a lower body injury. 

There was optimism about Green's status after he rejoined the team on the bench, returning from the locker room. There isn't concern about his status ahead of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

According to Tom Hersz, an Australian basketball spokesperson offered an update on Green's ankle injury on Sunday, describing it as minor and will be available to play on Friday against Finland. 

Green is set to play a significant role for Australia at the World Cup. The expressed plan has been for him to start over Matisse Thybulle on the wing, while commanding comparisons of his on-ball defense to Matthew Dellavedova "on steroids." 

"Defensively, it's totally different than Matisse," Australian national team coach Brian Goorjian said after Thursday's game. "Matisse is off the ball, you've got these long arms; he's switchable and he gets steals off the ball.

"[Green] is a bulldog on the ball, like Delly on steroids," Goorjian explained. "The ball pressure was incredible."

With Josh Giddey being Australia's main initiator, Green is viewed as being a needed fit alongside him on the wing, especially as a result of his shooting improvement in recent years. Last season with the Mavs, he shot a single-season best 40.2 percent from 3 in 2022-23.

"Dallas has done a tremendous job with [his shot]," Goorjian said of Green. "That's a really big piece. ... It's something Josh [Giddey] is gonna like playing with, and then you've got Goulding in the background to add to that."

Green is looking forward to competing at the World Cup to help lead Australia to success. He is confident in the group the team has 

"Looking at past Boomers rosters, I think we're a lot more versatile," Green told ESPN Australia. "We have a lot more guys who can run up and down the court. We have multiple ball-handlers who can bring the ball up. I think we're gonna play a more faster paced game than what we're probably used to playing, Boomers wise."

Green continued: "Faster pace means a lot more stuff. We'll play in transition, it's more fun to play; more fun to watch. It's a winning style of game. Everyone's unselfish. For me, it's coming in and being able to bring the same intensity.

“I don't want to lose so I'm gonna be competitive, play the same way I do in the NBA. I think we're gonna be a very defensive-minded team, and I think we have a lot of great players to be able to really go on a good run."

Australia's first match in part of the FIBA World Cup is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 25 against Lauri Markkanen and Finland in Okinawa, Japan.

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Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

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