His sports dreams were birthed at an early age when his Uncle Dee taught him how to swing a bat, shoot a ball, dress well and hold his head up high while speaking. He especially reminded a young Greene to stand firm and proud as a young Black man growing up in Paducah, Kentucky.
Uncle Dee was only 10 years older than Greene and more like a brother than an uncle, but the love and encouragement he poured into his nephew profoundly impacted Greene’s life. Dee was also the first person that Greene watched attend college and graduate.
He told his nephew that anything was possible.
“He is the main reason I became interested in sports at a young age, with him being a college athlete himself,” Greene said. “We spent a lot of time together…as a Black boy, I can’t tell you how important it was to have a man in my life who could share his experiences with me and teach me right from wrong.”
Uncle Dee serves as a great reminder of how much power we all carry. Our words and actions have a significant influence and can change the trajectory of young people’s lives.
It did for Greene, and now the student has become the teacher. He’s a leader called upon by the Dallas Mavericks to co-chair the Black Employee Network (BEN). The employee resource group is dedicated to outreach in underserved communities in North Texas and aims to create awareness of Black culture within the Mavs organization. BEN also facilitates educational opportunities internally and externally for minorities and allies.
Greene has worked for the Dallas Mavericks for the last five years and currently serves as a Group Sales Account Executive with the franchise. During the season and on game nights, Greene’s wisdom and guidance plays a pivotal role in helping Dallas Mavericks fans and groups have a memorable game night experience.
Greene especially loves to pour out time in the community, whether it’s fitting children with new jackets, dishing out meals for underserved people, or checking in with BEN members. These are the places where he especially shines.
His role as a leader with BEN is a volunteer position that was appointed by executives. It carries great significance in a Dallas Mavs organization deeply committed to elevating the voices and experiences of minorities.
The responsibility doesn’t scare him – if anything Greene knows he comes from a legacy of fighters.
They set the standard — and now he gets to carry the torch.
“It’s going to sound weird, but what makes me most proud to be a Black man is the struggle,” Greene shared. “We as Black people have faced countless hardships and unfairness over hundreds of years, and yet, we are still here. We are still fighting fairness. We are still fighting for inclusion. We are still fighting for respect. I’m proud to be a part of a heritage of fighters.”
Greene’s grit was fortified there in the rural town of Paducah, Kentucky, a community tucked on the southern side of the Ohio River with about 30,000 residents. The quaint city is situated between St. Louis and Nashville, and Greene later graduated from Paducah Tilghman High School.
From there, he was motivated to pursue his higher education degree just like Uncle Dee and Greene set his sights on the University of Louisville.
Greene went to school full time and simultaneously worked as a student assistant in the athletics department. He learned the inside business of the sports world, and instead of pushing him away — it only deepened Greene’s desire to work in sports. He was especially drawn to the NBA.
He later earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Administration and a minor in Communications from Louisville. After graduation, he landed a job with the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Dallas Mavericks later hired him in 2017.
Greene has been a rising star in the organization ever since.
Although Greene’s professional sports career got off to a fast start, he said there are no shortcuts in life. He worked tirelessly during college, often times for free, and it eventually paid off. Now he’s motivated to help other young people pursue their own sports ambitions.
“The most important trait I believe that you need to have as a young person is confidence,” Greene said. “Don’t be afraid to be yourself, have confidence that who you are is enough to be successful. Once you realize that, you will be able to step into any space with certainty. With that confidence, you’ll be able to see yourself more clearly and will be able to continue to genuinely grow and improve the areas that are needed.”
February is Black History Month, and the Dallas Mavericks are proud to join the NBA in celebrating the achievements and extraordinary accomplishments of Black men and women in the organization. Marquise Greene is an outstanding leader and pioneer who blazes a path for future leaders to follow.
In honor of Black History Month, Mavs.com caught up with Greene to learn more about his past and how it propelled him into his future.
MAVS.COM: Can you share what you do for the Mavericks for our fans who might not know you? What’s a typical week like in your role?
GREENE: My position here with the Mavericks is a Group Sales Account Executive. The main focus is to sell and manage the logistics of large group outings that we have at our home games. This includes organizing outings and events for corporations, schools, and nonprofits, while also assisting outside event planners who would like to utilize our arena space on gamedays. My non-gamedays are filled with mostly phone calls, emails, and face to face meetings at the arena. My gamedays are filled with much of the same with the addition of client visits at the arena and other miscellaneous duties.
MAVS.COM: Who is a Black player, coach, leader or person within the Mavs organization who has impacted you the most?
GREENE: I would have to say Kenny Bunch. Kenny is only slightly older than me, but he carries himself as if he’s a lot older. When I first arrived to Dallas, I wasn’t sure to expect, but Kenny did a great job helping me get comfortable and acclimated with the city. He always gives me great advice when I need it and I admire how he carries himself as a professional and as a man. Every time I look around, he is always helping someone, and he is truly a servant.
MAVS.COM: Sometimes we chase after dreams, other times, dreams chase after us. Did you always have a desire to work in the NBA — or do you feel like an extraordinary set of circumstances ultimately pushed you into purpose and your current role?
GREENE: I knew that I always wanted to work in sports and specifically the NBA, mainly because of how fast the league was growing and how diverse it was. My dream job was to be that high-rolling sports agent you would see on TV from time to time (LOL) but life had other plans. I’ve always been someone who has tried to take advantage of opportunities given and make the best out of them. Even if it was something I thought I didn’t want. So, I wouldn’t say I felt pushed into my current role but I definitely have found purpose in it.
MAVS.COM: Tell me a story about a Black leader or family member in your life who believed in you long before you believed in yourself. Who gets your Lifetime Achievement Award?
GREENE: I would have to say my Uncle Dee, who is 10 years older than me and is more like an older brother than an uncle. He is the main reason I became interested in sports at a young age, with him being a college athlete himself. We spent a lot of time together, whether it was teaching me how to swing a bat, swing a golf club, shoot a ball, dressing well, how to respect and talk to girls, networking with people, etc., he was there. As a Black boy, I can’t tell you how important it was to have a man in my life who could share his experiences with me and teach me right from wrong. He was also the first person I saw attend college and graduate. This sparked my interest in getting a higher education and not being afraid to step out of my comfort zone once I got out of high school.
MAVS.COM: What makes you most proud to be a Black man? What do you love most about your background, heritage, or ancestry?
GREENE: It’s going to sound weird, but what makes me most proud to be a Black man is the struggle. We as Black people have faced countless hardships and unfairness over hundreds of years and yet we are still here. We are still fighting for fairness. We are still fighting for inclusion. We are still fighting for respect. I’m proud to be a part of a heritage of fighters. Black people are special and are the foundation to a lot of what you see today. Whether it’s art, music, sports, politics — we have played an essential part in how this world functions.
MAVS.COM: If a young person with big dreams happens to read this profile, what advice would you give them on how to get where you are?
GREENE: The most important trait I believe you need to have as a young person is confidence. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, have confidence that who you are is enough to be successful. Once you realize that, you will be able to step in any space with certainty. With that confidence you’ll be able to see yourself more clearly and will be able to continue to genuinely grow and improve in the areas that are needed.
MAVS.COM: Finally, we want to know some fun stuff about you! What do you love to do outside of work?
GREENE: I spend most of my time outside of work exercising, playing basketball, and playing golf. I’m definitely a foodie, so I enjoy trying out new restaurants and Dallas has a lot of different options. I also love binge watching shows. I would have to say my top shows right now are Ozark, Handmaid’s Tale, Power, Attack on Titan (Anime), and all of the Disney + Marvel shows.
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