[3] Green was born in Brooklyn, New York City, and was raised in Willingboro Township, New Jersey, by his Jamaican father and American mother, along with two sister.

In 2003, when James was 10 years of age, Green's father was shot and killed by one of the people he helped, whom he was arguing with about studio fees and money for rent.

[8] In collegiate wrestling, Green went on to become a four–time NCAA Division I All–American (placing 7th, 7th, 3rd and 3rd) and a Big Ten Conference champion for the Cornhuskers, graduating in 2015 with a 124–18 record.

[30] During his trip to Russia and Europe, Green also placed seventh at the prestigious Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin 2019 in January.

[33] Afterwards, Green once again went overseas, placing eleventh at the Yasar Dogu International and the Aleksandr Medved Memorial, before his thirteenth–place finish at the World Championships.

[34][35][36][37] During the 2020 Summer Olympic year, Green first intended to move up to 74 kilograms, but in his first tournament at the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series, he was eliminated in the first round by technical fall.

[40] He then made the move down to 65 kilograms, competed at two of the series of events put on by FloWrestling, the RTC Cup and the Flo 8–man Challenge (150 pounds), where he racked up victories over the likes of U23 Cuban National champion Anthony Echemendia and multiple–time All–Americans Alec Pantaleo and Bryce Meredith, gave birth to a series with two–time Cadet World champion Yianni Diakomihalis and placed second at both tournaments.

[45] After his failed attempt at 65 kg, Green returned to his competitive weight, going back up to 70 kilograms and claiming the US Open National Championship, defeating Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series 2021 winner Alec Pantaleo in the finale.

[52] Green competed at the prestigious Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yarygin on January 28, 2022, but failed to place after losing to European Champion Kurban Shiraev.

[57] In April, Green competed at the US Olympic Team Trials, suffering a first-round loss to NCAA champion Jesse Mendez.