Josh Green’s journey with the Charlotte Hornets hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Not long ago, it felt like he was more of a trade rumor fixture than a trusted contributor. But fast forward to this season, and Green has carved out a defined role-and on nights like Wednesday, that role proves to be a difference-maker, even in a loss.
In Charlotte’s 94-87 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Green was one of the quiet catalysts behind a near-comeback that fell just short. The Hornets stumbled out of the gate, quickly trailing 13-2 within the first four minutes.
A bold decision to bring LaMelo Ball off the bench in the first leg of a back-to-back didn’t exactly pan out, and Charlotte’s offense sputtered. The second quarter was particularly rough, with the Hornets managing just 12 points-marking a season low-and heading into halftime down by 24.
But this team didn’t fold. Instead, they leaned into their defense and clawed their way back, holding Cleveland to just 38 points in the second half. That defensive intensity nearly flipped the script, and at the heart of it was Green, doing what he does best: the little things that don’t always show up in a highlight reel but absolutely show up in the box score-and on the scoreboard.
Green finished with just seven points on 2-of-3 shooting, but his impact went far beyond scoring. With Moussa Diabate struggling to deal with Cleveland’s frontcourt duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, Green stepped up on the glass. He pulled down nine rebounds-five of them on the offensive end-giving Charlotte extra possessions and a fighting chance in a game where every point mattered.
Defensively, he was part of a trio-alongside Diabate and Grant Williams-that helped clamp down on the Cavs during a key stretch in the fourth quarter. Their collective effort helped trim Cleveland’s lead to single digits early in the final period, injecting some real belief into Charlotte’s comeback bid.
And while plus/minus doesn’t always tell the whole story, Green’s +12 on the night stood out-especially on a team that lost by seven. It’s a testament to the impact he had when he was on the floor.
Now, let’s be real: Green has had his off nights. He went scoreless in back-to-back games against the Lakers and Warriors during the Hornets’ recent five-game West Coast swing. But even when the shots aren’t falling, he’s found ways to contribute-whether it’s through rebounding, defensive rotations, or simply making the smart play.
What’s changed this season isn’t necessarily his numbers-they’re nearly identical to last year’s per-36-minute stats, with only a slight uptick in rebounding. His shooting splits?
Also pretty similar. But what has shifted is the context.
Last season, Green was expected to be a starter, a bigger piece of the offensive puzzle. This year, he’s embraced a reserve role-and he’s thriving in it.
That change in expectations has made all the difference. Instead of forcing the issue, Green is playing within himself and giving Charlotte quality minutes off the bench.
He’s not trying to be the star. He’s trying to be the glue guy-and right now, he’s doing a pretty solid job of holding things together.