Aussie young gun Josh Green wows NBA with career-best performance

Aussie young gun Josh Green has proved he is a serious star of the NBA team controversial star Kyrie Irving just joined.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FEBRUARY 06: Josh Green #8 of the Dallas Mavericks drives in to Mike Conley #11 of the Utah Jazz during the second half of a game at Vivint Arena on February 06, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Australian young gun Josh Green has made the NBA sit up and take notice with a breakout performance to steer the Dallas Mavericks to victory on Tuesday (AEDT).

In the absence of injured star Luka Doncic and new recruit Kyrie Irving, Green was given the keys to the Mavericks offence against the Utah Jazz and passed with flying colours, leading Dallas to a 124-111 win.

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Green finished with a career-high 29 points, six rebounds and two assists as he took centre stage along with Mavericks rookie Jaden Hardy, who also scored a career-best 29 points.

Green looked right at home at point guard as he expertly controlled the pace of the game, giving up zero turnovers.

In a sign of just how impressive his game was, the Mavericks were a remarkable +39 when Green was on the court in a 13-point win.

Josh Green was on fire in his best game yet for the Mavs. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

It’s the highest ‘plus minus’ in a game by a Maverick this season and the most points scored by an Australian in a game this season.

Basketball fans were seriously impressed by Green and believe he will be vital support to Doncic and Irving.

Jaden Hardy and Josh Green showed out in the Mavs W.

Hardy: 29 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST, 4 3PM
Green: 29 PTS, 6 REB, 3 3PM pic.twitter.com/gNj3ZrxYDp

— NBA (@NBA) February 7, 2023

fam, josh green finished +39 lol i’m hooting and very much hollering

— mike taddow (@MikeTaddow) February 7, 2023

Mavs Big 4 of Luka, Kyrie, Josh Green & Jaden Hardy is going to be hard to stop imo.

— Dalton Trigg (@dalton_trigg) February 7, 2023

29 from both Josh Green and Jaden Hardy is something I did not have on my Mavs bingo card tonight

What a performance

— RC Maxfield (@RCMB323) February 7, 2023

jaden hardy and josh green pic.twitter.com/XePHxF7Wcu

— mike taddow (@MikeTaddow) February 7, 2023

SB Nation’s Ricky O’Donnell tweeted: “Josh Green suddenly feels like one of the most important young players in the league.

“Super athlete + good length + he’s hitting his threes this year. I saw him play in HS and the stuff he was showing off the dribble tonight was never there before. Mavs need him ready now.”

The victory over the Jazz was the first game Doncic has missed this season that the Mavericks have won.

Speaking after the game, Green said: “If we want to be a championship team, it’s about the rest of us stepping up.”

Who needs Luka and Kyrie when you have Josh Green? (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

There is a Kyrie Iving-shaped cloud hanging over the Mavericks after they traded for the controversial star from Brooklyn in a bid to give franchise cornerstone Doncic some much-needed support.

The Mavericks will be determined to make things work with Irving and at least replicate last season when they reached the Western Conference finals.

Green is rapidly improving and his performance against Utah, which featured several powerful dunks, mounted a serious case for him to be elevated to the Dallas’ starting five.

The 22-year-old won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics as part of the Boomers team and after making a quiet start to his NBA season, has taken his game to another level in his third season for the Mavericks.

So when Luka and Kyrie eventually suit up as teammates, Green will be ready to back up two of the most prolific scorers and ball handlers in the NBA.

Originally published as Aussie young gun Josh Green wows NBA with career-best performance