With draft night nearly here, more and more buzz seems to be surrounding Arizona product Josh Green and his potential fit on the Sixers. While I have previously written about this not being the right selection, Green may check more boxes for the Sixers than it originally seemed.
Josh Green met with members of the media via zoom to talk about his experience in the pre-draft process and spoke very highly of the 76ers:
On the Court
As far as the on-court match, Green will likely fill the role of a player off the bench who can do a little bit of everything. He averaged 12 points along with 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals while shooting 36.1% from 3-point range. Green scored 1.2 points per possession on catch-and-shoot in the half-court which ranked in the 85th percentile amongst prospects. He has a Klay Thomson like stroke and moves well off the ball to set up his shot.
While Green is limited off the dribble and lacks playmaking ability, he is one of the more NBA ready players on the defensive end. His 6’10 wingspan allows him to get in passing lanes effectively and he has fluid hips that allow for great lateral quickness (He finished 2nd amongst prospects in the shuttle run). Green also ranked in the 79th percentile in his transition game and fills lanes in a way that would complement Ben Simmons and the rest of the team extremely well.
Interview Takeaways
After asking Green if he has had any contact with the 76ers, Green appeared excited about his interactions with the team. As Josh put it, “I did talk with the 76ers recently. I’ve been close with Ben Simmons for a while and he loves it there. It’s a great tradition with the 76ers as far as everything goes. It’s an awesome place. They’ve got superstars on the team right now with Joel and Ben, but I think it’s an awesome city and a great basketball culture.” Green said he has communicated with Elton Brand as well as the head scout and that all interactions have been positive.
In addition to the catch-and-shoot ability that he already has shown, Green talked about how he has been working on his scoring off the dribble and his overall handle. As it is Green projects to be a great complimentary piece who can fill a bench spot immediately. Despite being on a talented Arizona team that will likely produce 3 first-round picks, Green stood out and was spoken very highly of by other members of the team as well as former Head Coach Sean Miller.
Connection With Ben Simmons
One of the more underrated storylines regarding Josh Green has been his connection to Ben Simmons. The two Australians first met during Green’s time rising through the Aussie basketball circuit and the pair have kept in touch since then.
As Green put it, “(Ben Simmons) being able to reach out to me first meant a lot to me personally and it’s awesome being able to reach out to him… being able to talk to him and him giving me advice has been awesome. He’s a great kid. A great guy and I appreciate our relationship.” While the pair have not spent much time on the court together, it seems like Green would be a great match for his style of play.
If Green can continue to improve his shooting and ability to spread the floor, he will be a great addition to the team. The potential of a lineup with Simmons leading the fast break with Matisse Thybulle and Josh Green filling lanes oozes with length and potential. It is still to remain seen if Green will be on the board when the Sixers are on the clock for the 21st pick (if they remain in that draft slot), but adding another Australian to the roster may be just what the team needs.
hoto by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire
