Mavs Training Camp: Josh Green to Take Next Step?

Heading into a contract year, Josh Green is ready to take his game to the next level for the Mavs.

After a long, active offseason for the Dallas Mavericks, it's almost time to kick off the 2023-24 season with training camp opening on Wednesday.

Fourth-year wing Josh Green is heading into a very important season with a potential contract extension hanging in the balance. It could be a big year for both his personal trajectory and the Mavs’ overall success. 

In his third season, Green averaged career-high numbers across the board with 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 40 percent from downtown in just under 26 minutes per game. 

Green showed immense growth on the offensive end of the floor last year, as he comfortably knocked down shots from outside, becoming a trustworthy shooter and looking to be more aggressive and active with the ball in his hands. 

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But for Green, his bread and butter for this Mavs team will still come on the defensive end of the floor, where he has the potential to become an elite defender on the perimeter.

"I want to be able to be a bigger defensive presence next year for the Mavs," Green told DallasBasketball.com. "I think this is a perfect time to try. I think I'll be in pretty good shape from picking up full court every game."

Going into his fourth season, Green could be Dallas' starting small forward — that is, unless he is somehow beaten out by promising rookie Olivier-Maxence Prosper in camp. Regardless, though, he will be a crucial part to the Mavs’ defensive schemes.

With the addition of forward Grant Williams alongside the sometimes lackluster defense from the Mavs’ backcourt, we should see Green focus a lot of his defensive energy on opposing guards this season while Williams handles the assignment of the opposing teams’ best scoring forwards. 

Green's athleticism, endless effort, and natural defensive instincts has already proven him to be an above-average defender in this league. But, if he can take that next step on both ends of the floor, both he and his team should have a successful year.

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