Monday afternoon, as part of the Mavs Reading Challenge, presented by Whataburger, Green went from the court to the classroom to promote his love of reading. He surprised students at Adelle Turner Elementary in Dallas for a Mavs Reading Timeout event.
He was joined by Mavs game night host Chris Arnold and local children’s author, Louie T. McClain II, to read the book Brick By Brick: A Snippet of the Life of Booker T. Washington, donated by Melanin Origin, a Black-owned publisher.
“I love Dallas,” Green told the students, “and I love being here. I love helping you guys out. Reading is critical; whatever I can do to help you guys, I’m all for it and ready to go.”
Green thought the message of the book was important because it serves as a theme for his own life. Brick by brick, he has ascended from a child who dreamed of playing basketball to actually reaching the highest level of the game.
“Today was awesome,” Green said. “The kids had great, funny questions. It reminded me of when I was a kid. I really love being in Dallas, and the community treats me great. I will continue to do as much as possible to help them, and it was awesome today. I loved it.”
Each year, the Dallas Mavs celebrate Black History Month with various activations throughout the month.
Green said it’s crucial to help students learn about Black history because understanding past experiences can propel us towards the future. He said it’s also important for him to step away from the court and give back to the community.
“I got everything out of today,” Green said. “I play a very serious game. So [it’s fun] to come out here and smile and see the kids smile. It’s special to see how it can change their day. If anything, it means more to me than it does to them. I miss being around my little sister and being a kid. So coming back into environments like this is always fun.”
McClain said hearing an NBA player read his book on stage was surreal. Even better, the kids were engaged with the story. Brick by Brick 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 from education.
Booker taught us that no dream is too big, nothing is impossible, and that through our collective efforts, we can achieve our dreams step-by-step and brick-by-brick.
“This is my very first children’s book,” said McClain, a native of Arlington, Texas, about Brick by Brick. “This was the start of my company. Booker T. Washington was someone I idolized, and I’m proud that I could teach students about the great things he did to make a difference in this world.”
McClain noted how today was a full circle moment because the Dallas Mavericks are his hometown team, and his first job was at Whataburger. Now he’s publishing books to show the future generation what’s possible.
“This book will inspire kids,” McClain shared. “It’s about [building] brick by brick, [and] taking one step at a time to reach your goals, pursue your dreams, help your friends and help everyone along the way and in the process. It’s all about determination, just like Booker T. Washington.”
McClain’s company, Melanin Origins, specializes in children’s books about lesser-known African American pioneers and the company aims to connect the current culture to the past. They hope to become the “largest culturally competent” book provider in the country.
During the session with the youth, Green and McClain showed the kids all the bricks in the auditorium. When the question and answer session opened, the kids were still enthralled with the idea that many bricks create a building.
The students’ questions ranged from “how are bricks made” to “how many bricks are in their school building?” Green and McClain got a good laugh.
Green, a native of Sydney, Australia, knows all about building a life brick by brick. He was just 13 years old when he boarded an airplane with his family and set off for America.
He was flanked on both sides by his parents, two brothers, and Maya, who was a toddler at the time. It was a decision that required a ton of faith, but the move ultimately paid off for the Green family and Josh’s desire to someday play professional basketball.
His parents, Cahla and Delmas, both played professional hoops in Australia, but they never pushed him to play basketball.
By the age of 10, Green had made state in nine sports, but there was something really unique and special about him when he picked up a basketball.
The Mavs used the No. 18 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft to select the University of Arizona shooting guard. Since then, he’s evolved into a vital piece of the franchise, both on and off the court.
During the holidays, Green spent time with kids at an area hospital and then participated in several other community events. Monday’s reading timeout was one more chance for him to give back to the game that has afforded him many blessings.
“These events are awesome,” said Emily Honeycutt with the Dallas Mavs. “If you ever get to be out with the players when they’re interacting with the kids, it’s honestly the best experience. The kids are so excited to see them, and the players are just as excited. And it’s just a really, really fun time.”
Honeycutt said Green is relatable and the kids seem to gravitate towards his inspirational messages.
Green said he’s still a kid at heart.
“Reading different stories [growing up] motivated me,” Green told the kids. “I dressed up as characters. I thought I was a character. It’s fun. You never know who you will run into in the future and cross paths with. Everybody has a story here, and I think it’s important for you guys to learn each other’s stories because you can learn so much. While in school, have fun and do your best to learn.”
Green was especially excited on Monday because his favorite fan will be at the game on Tuesday. Little sister Maya is flying in with the family to attend the Mavs game.
Afterwards, they’ll sit down and talk about their lives. Brick by brick.
Reporter: Tamara Jolee, Dallas Mavs
Photojournalist: Brandon Colston, Dallas Mavs
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