NBA: Aussie young gun Josh Green plays best game of career to date

Josh Giddey has become used to making the headlines this NBA season, but it was another Aussie’s turn to wow the masses on Monday.

Green celebrates with Luka Doncic. Picture: Glenn James / NBAE via Getty Images

Aussie young gun Josh Green played the best game of his short NBA career to date on Monday (AEDT), helping the Dallas Mavericks to their first six-game hot streak in nearly six years.

The Sydney-born 21-year-old struggled for minutes earlier in the season but has quickly proven a favourite of acting head coach Sean Sweeney.

Sweeney took the reins for the Mavericks’ two most recent clashes, against the Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls, after head coach Jason Kidd entered the league’s Covid-19 protocols.

Sweeney clearly knows how to get the best out of Green, who first racked up 17 points against the Rockets and then 18 in the 113-99 win over the Bulls on Monday (AEDT).

Green had six rebounds to go with the career-high haul of points against the Bulls.

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A career-high 1️⃣8️⃣ PTS for Josh Green 😤

Had himself a night. pic.twitter.com/NdMnxArpv9

— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) January 10, 2022

“He works very religiously on his shooting and ball handling,” Sweeney said of Green afterwards.

“He’s been one of the most consistent workers on the team.”

The praise for Green didn’t end there.

“I’ve seen a lot from him,” Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson said.

“He’s done amazing things. With a little bit more opportunity to go out there and play, he’s been able to showcase that.

“He works hard, he believes in himself and as his teammates, we believe in him.

“For him to have a performance like he did tonight, I’m not really shocked. As his teammates, we’re not really shocked.”

Green was on fire against the Rockets, but managed to outdo himself against the Bulls. Picture: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images

Green said he wouldn’t be resting on his laurels after stringing together two strong performances.

“My whole goal is coming out and playing as hard as I can to try and get the ball moving,” he said.

“I work in the same way I worked on day one when I got drafted.”

Thanks in no small part to Green’s efforts off the bench, the Mavericks snapped the Bulls’ nine-game streak to run away to their first six-game streak since April, 2016.

The Mavericks, who are undefeated in 2022, face the New York Knicks on Thursday morning (AEDT) for the chance to stretch their run to seven.

Green is proving popular among his Dallas teammates. Picture: Glenn James / NBAE via Getty Images

Elsewhere, Patty Mills claimed bragging rights over fellow Aussie Jock Landale when the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Covid-ravished San Antonio Spurs in overtime, 121-119.

True to form, Mills was the Nets’ most damaging player from deep, landing three triples.

Landale had 10 points of his own from his 16 minutes on the floor, to go with three rebounds and five assists.

The two Aussies, both members of the Boomers squad that won bronze in Tokyo, met on the court at full-time to catch up.

Terrific game this morning, great to see @Patty_Mills & @JockLandale plying their trade & enjoying their mateship #PorVidapic.twitter.com/3ELVICBnkk

— Stephen Letts (@Stephen_Letts) January 9, 2022

Originally published as NBA: Aussie young gun Josh Green plays best game of career to date