It was hard to call which team would emerge out of the Western Conference, but the Dallas Mavericks are in no means a surprise for NBA fans. While the team didn’t have the most eye-catching roster in the league, they have a superb duo in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
The backcourt duo has been doing a lot of the heavy lifting for the Mavs throughout the season. Doncic’s outstanding playmaking and Irving’s stellar dribbling have been vital to the team’s outstanding postseason campaign.
However, it takes more than two people to win basketball games. The rest of the roster must also step up if they’re going to prove the bookies wrong. Two of the team’s Australian players are especially eager to buck the predictions with their play.
Dante Exum and Josh Green are exited to help the Dallas Mavericks win their second title
Dante Exum and Josh Green may not have big roles in the Mavericks, but both of them have proven themselves useful to Jason Kidd’s game plans throughout the season.
Exum was a fixture in the Mavericks’ rotation in the regular season, averaging 7.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists a game. Meanwhile, Josh Green steadily improved as a rotation option in Kidd’s roster since joining in 2020, notching 8.2 points, 2.5 boards, and 3.5 assists as the team’s sixth man.
Exum, who was once a top lottery pick with the Utah Jazz, battled plenty of hurdles to make a successful return in the NBA. Now that he’s only four wins away from winning with the Dallas Mavericks, Australian basketball great Chris Anstey feels proud of his achievements.
He’s also happy to see Green thriving and securing his position as a key rotation piece in Kidd’s roster.
Per Roy Ward of WA Today:
“To see two Aussies in the NBA Finals – we haven’t seen it for a long time,” said Boomers great Anstey, who is a former Maverick.
“Dante, after the injuries he has had, and the year he has had in losing his dad – I’m really happy for him and hope he has a really positive experience.
“He had two really impressive years in Europe and showed his body was more durable than people thought. When he got back into the NBA, he was still sharp, still impactful, and returned himself to being a mainstream NBA player.”
Exum may not see plenty of action as Luka and Kyrie will likely play almost every minute of the Finals. Meanwhile, Green will see time on the floor as a dynamic guard who can shoot and defend.
Regardless of their roles in the Finals, Dallas Mavericks fans can count on these two to take the game to the Celtics and help the Mavs win Banner #2.
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