Josh Green of Mavs inspires local students to keep reading

Dallas Mavericks defenseman Josh Green said he loves doing good for the community, especially kids. As the older brother of an 11-year-old sister named Maya, entering the classroom reminds him of the importance of nurturing future leaders. It is also vital for him to use his voice as a role model for little black children.

On Monday afternoon, as part of the Mavs Reading Challenge hosted by Whataburger, Green went from yard to classroom to celebrate his love of reading. He surprised students at Adele Turner Elementary School in Dallas with a Mavs Reading Timeout event.

He was joined by Mavs game night host Chris Arnold and local children’s author Louis T. McClain II to read the book. Brick by Brick: A Selection from the Life of Booker T. Washington, donated by Melanin Origin, a black-owned publisher.

“I love Dallas,” Greene told students, “and I love being here. I love helping you guys. Reading is critical; anything I can do to help you guys, I’m all for it and ready to go.”

Green thought the book’s idea was important because it served as the theme of his own life. He rose brick by brick from a child who dreamed of playing basketball to reaching the highest level of playing.

“Today was great,” Greene said. “The kids had great, fun questions. It reminded me of when I was a child. I really enjoy being in Dallas and the local community is great with me. I will continue to do my best to help them and today was amazing. I like it.”

Each year, the Dallas Mavs celebrate Black History Month with various activations throughout the month.

Green said it’s important to help students learn about black history because understanding past experiences can push us into the future. He said it was also important for him to step away from the court and give back to the community.

“I got it right today,” Greene said. “I am playing a very serious game. So [it’s fun] come out here, smile and see how the children smile. It’s special to see how it can change their day. In any case, it means more to me than to them. I miss my little sister and how I was a child. So it’s always fun to come back to that kind of environment.”

McClain said hearing an NBA player read his book on stage was surreal. Moreover, the children were involved in the story. stone by stone was a labor of love. It follows the life of a young Booker T. Washington, who became an influential historical figure through motivation, hard work, and knowledge gained through education.

Booker taught us that nothing is too big, nothing is impossible, and that through our combined efforts, we can achieve our dreams step by step, brick by brick.

“This is my very first children’s book,” McClain, a native of Arlington, Texas, said of stone by stone. “That was the start of my company. I idolized Booker T. Washington and I’m proud to be able to tell students about the great things he did to change the world.”

McClain said today was a full circle moment because the Dallas Mavericks are his hometown team and his first job was at Whataburger. Now he publishes books to show future generations what is possible.

“This book will inspire children,” McClain said. “It’s about [building] stone by stone [and] take one step at a time to reach your goals, fulfill your dreams, help your friends and help everyone along the way and in the process. It’s all about determination, like Booker T. Washington.”

McClain’s company, Melanin Origins, specializes in children’s books about lesser-known African-American pioneers, and the company seeks to link modern culture to the past. They hope to become “the largest culturally competent” bookseller in the country.

During the youth session, Green and McClain showed the children all the blocks in the hall. When the Q&A session began, the kids were still in awe of the idea that many bricks made a building.

Students’ questions ranged from “how are bricks made” to “how many bricks are in their school building?” Green and McClane had a good laugh.

Green, a native of Sydney, Australia, knows all about building life brick by brick. He was only 13 years old when he boarded a plane with his family and went to America.

He was surrounded on both sides by his parents, two brothers and Maya, who at that time was just a baby. This decision required a lot of faith, but the move ultimately paid off for the Green family and Josh’s desire to someday play professional basketball.

His parents, Kahla and Delmas, were both professional basketball players in Australia, but they never forced him to play basketball.

By the age of 10, Green had been successful in nine sports, but there was something really unique and special about him when he took up basketball.

The Mavs used the 18th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft to draft the University of Arizona shooting guard. It has since grown into a vital part of the franchise both on and off the court.

During the holidays, Greene spent time with the children at the district hospital and then took part in several other social events. Monday’s reading timeout was another chance for him to pay tribute to a game that has brought him many blessings.

“These events are amazing,” said Emily Honeycutt of the Dallas Mavs. “If you’ve ever been with players when they’re interacting with kids, it’s honestly the best experience. The kids are so excited to see them, the players are just as excited. And it’s just a really, really fun time.”

Honeycutt said Green is likable and kids seem to be drawn to his inspirational messages.

Green said he was still a child at heart.

“Reading different stories [growing up] motivated me,” Green told the children. “I dressed like a character. I thought I was a character. It’s fun. You never know who you will run into in the future and who you will cross paths with. Everyone has a story here and I think it’s important for you guys to know each other’s stories because you can learn a lot. While at school, have fun and do your best to learn.”

Greene was especially excited on Monday because his favorite fan will be at the game on Tuesday. Younger sister Maya arrives with her family for the Mavs game.

After that, they will sit down and talk about their lives. Stone by stone.

Storyline: Tamara Jolie, Dallas Mavs
Photojournalist: Brandon Colston, Dallas Mavs