Josh Green Bio
Joshua Benjamin Green is an Australian professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 200 pounds, he plays as a guard and is widely respected for his perimeter defense and athleticism. Green is also notable for representing Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he helped the Boomers win a bronze medal, the nation’s first men’s basketball Olympic medal.
After a single season of college basketball with the Arizona Wildcats, Green was selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the 18th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He spent four seasons in Dallas before being traded to Charlotte in July 2024 as part of a historic six-team deal.
Josh Green Early Life and Background
Josh Green was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, to an American-born father, Delmas Green, and an Australian mother, Cahla Green. His parents met while both were playing semi-professional basketball in Australia. Delmas played college basketball at Oregon Tech before playing professionally in Australia. The couple raised Josh and his three siblings in the north-west Sydney suburb of Castle Hill, where Josh began playing basketball at the age of five under his mother’s coaching.
As a child, Green joined the local Hills Hornets and tried an array of sports, excelling in Australian rules football, athletics, rugby, soccer, and swimming. By the age of 10, he had been selected to represent New South Wales in nine different sports. In fifth grade, he traveled more than 12 hours by car to Broken Hill to trial for the under-12 state basketball team and was told he was talented but would have to wait for older players to age out. Twelve months later, he captained the NSW Metro under-12 team to a national title. He also attended The King’s School in Parramatta and was selected to represent New South Wales’ under-16 state team at the age of 13.
Josh Green Path to Basketball
Green was a promising Australian rules football talent as a youth, playing locally for the Westbrook Bulldogs and regularly attending Sydney Swans games with his father. Both the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants offered him a place in their junior developmental academies, and at 13 he accepted an offer to join the Giants’ academy. However, he had to quit football when his family relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, in November 2014.
After the move, Green enrolled at Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, Arizona, where he continued to impress on the basketball court. In 2017, he transferred to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, and quickly became a consensus five-star recruit. He was selected for the 2019 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game and led IMG to a national championship, scoring a 65–55 victory over La Lumiere in the final and earning game MVP honors.
Green committed to the University of Arizona on 4 October 2018 over offers from Kansas, North Carolina, Villanova, USC, and UNLV, signing his National Letter of Intent later that month. He was ranked among the top players in the 2019 recruiting class by 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN.
Josh Green Career
College Career (2019–2020)
Green played one season of college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats. In his second game, he scored 20 points in a 90–69 win over Illinois. He missed a game against UCLA on 29 February 2020 due to a lower back sprain. Green averaged 12.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game as a freshman while shooting 36.1% from three-point range. Following the season, he declared for the 2020 NBA Draft.
Dallas Mavericks Breakthrough (2020–2024)
Green was selected with the 18th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks and signed his rookie scale contract on 30 November 2020. He made his NBA debut on 23 December 2020, scoring two points in a 106–102 loss to the Phoenix Suns. On 18 February 2021, he received his first NBA G League assignment with the Salt Lake City Stars. The Mavericks qualified for the postseason that year but were eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Clippers, with Green playing four total minutes across the seven-game series.
In his second season, Green posted a career-high 10 assists on 27 December 2021 against the Portland Trail Blazers. On 7 January 2022, he scored a season-high 17 points against the Houston Rockets, and two days later he surpassed that with 18 points against the Chicago Bulls. On 21 April 2022, in the Mavericks’ first-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz, he recorded 12 points, three rebounds, six assists, and two steals in a 126–118 Game 3 win. Dallas won its first playoff series since 2011 and reached the Western Conference Finals before falling to the eventual-champion Golden State Warriors in five games.
Green opened the 2022–23 campaign with a 23-point performance against the Denver Nuggets on 20 November 2022, but suffered an elbow injury against the Milwaukee Bucks on 9 December that sidelined him for 20 straight games. He returned on 18 January 2023 and on 6 February 2023 he set a new career high with 29 points in a 124–111 win over the Utah Jazz. On 23 October 2023, Green signed a three-year, $41 million contract extension with the Mavericks, and the following spring he helped Dallas reach the 2024 NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in five games.
Charlotte Hornets Era (2024–Present)
On 6 July 2024, Green was traded by the Mavericks to the Charlotte Hornets in a six-team sign-and-trade deal involving the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves, which became the NBA’s first six-team transaction. In his first season with Charlotte, he appeared in 68 games with 67 starts during the 2024–25 NBA campaign, averaging 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. On 20 June 2025, Green underwent surgery to address instability in his left shoulder.
Driving Style and Strengths
Josh Green is widely regarded as a high-energy perimeter defender who can guard multiple positions. Offensively, he thrives in transition, drives hard to the basket, and has continued to develop his three-point shot, as evidenced by his 36.1% mark from beyond the arc as a freshman at Arizona.
Notable Events and Milestones
Green’s most celebrated moment came at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he helped Australia beat Slovenia in the bronze medal game to capture the Boomers’ first-ever Olympic medal in men’s basketball. He also played a key role in the Mavericks’ run to the 2024 NBA Finals, and his trade to the Hornets was part of the NBA’s first six-team transaction in league history.
Josh Green Career Wins
Green’s career is still building, but he already owns a major international medal and an NBA Finals appearance. His Olympic bronze with Australia and his role in Dallas’ 2024 Finals run stand out as the defining achievements of his career so far.
NBA Highlights
During his four seasons with the Mavericks, Green contributed to two deep playoff runs, including the 2022 Western Conference Finals and the 2024 NBA Finals. He set a career high of 29 points against the Utah Jazz on 6 February 2023 and signed a $41 million extension in October 2023.
Other Wins & Performances
Green led IMG Academy to the 2019 high school national championship and earned game MVP honors. As a junior in Australia, he captained the NSW Metro under-12 state team to a national title and was selected as a McDonald’s All-American the same year he committed to Arizona.
Josh Green Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Josh Green is the son of Cahla Green and Delmas Green. His American-born father played college basketball at Oregon Tech, while both parents played professionally in Australia. He has three siblings, two brothers named Jay and Ky, and a younger sister named Maya. His brother Jay played for the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, continuing the family’s basketball tradition.
Personal Life
Green grew up in Sydney’s Castle Hill neighborhood and relocated to the United States in November 2014. He is of Australian nationality and continues to represent Australia in international competition, as he did at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
2025 Season Performance
Green’s 2024–25 campaign with the Charlotte Hornets marked his first season with the franchise after the historic six-team trade in July 2024. He appeared in 68 games with 67 starts and averaged 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, establishing himself as a regular rotation piece for the rebuilding team.
On 20 June 2025, Green underwent surgery on his left shoulder to address instability, which will likely affect the early portion of his 2025–26 season. The procedure is expected to allow him to return at full strength once recovered.
Looking ahead to the 2025–26 NBA season, Green is signed through 2027 on his three-year, $41 million extension that he signed with Dallas in October 2023. His focus will be on returning to full health and continuing to develop his perimeter defense and three-point shooting as a key member of the Hornets’ young core.