Jalen Green: Houston’s High-Flying Phenom Rewriting Rockets History

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jalen green
jalen green

From the courts of Fresno to the bright lights of the NBA, Jalen Romande Green (born February 9, 2002) has soared as the Houston Rockets‘ electrifying cornerstone. Selected 2nd overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, this consensus five-star recruit and former ESPN No. 1 overall prospect chose a revolutionary path—forgoing college to pioneer the NBA G League Ignite program. Today, he’s not just a rising star but a record-shattering force carrying the Rockets’ future.

California Roots: Forging a Prodigy

Born in Merced, California, and raised in Fresno, Green’s obsession with basketball ignited early. By sixth grade, he logged five-hour daily AAU practices. At San Joaquin Memorial High School, his dominance was immediate:

  • Freshman Year: 18.1 PPG, 9 RPG, CIF Central Section Rookie of the Year.

  • Sophomore Year: 27.9 PPG, MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year, Central Section Division II title.

  • Junior Year: 30.1 PPG, broke Roscoe Pondexter’s 50-year school scoring record (2,288 points).

For his senior year, he transferred to Prolific Prep (Napa, CA), averaging 31.5 PPG and winning the Grind Session World Championship while earning MVP honors and Sports Illustrated All-American recognition. Though the McDonald’s All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoop Summit were canceled due to COVID-19, his legacy was cemented.

The G League Gambit: Redefining the Path

In April 2020, Green stunned the basketball world by signing a $500,000 contract with the inaugural NBA G League Ignite—becoming its first-ever player. His 2020–21 season (17.9 PPG) showcased his readiness, highlighted by a 30-point playoff performance against Raptors 905.

Rocket Ascent: Houston’s Franchise Cornerstone

Drafted by the Houston Rockets, Green made history as the first G League Ignite draftee. His impact was instantaneous:

  • Rookie Year (2021–22):

    • Scored 30+ points with eight 3-pointers vs. Boston Celtics—a Rockets rookie first.

    • Joined Allen Iverson as the only rookies with five straight 30-point games.

    • Dropped 41 points vs. Atlanta Hawks—first Rockets rookie 40-point game since Hakeem Olajuwon.

    • Named to NBA All-Rookie First Team (17.3 PPG).

  • Sophomore Surge (2022–23):

    • Switched to jersey No. 4 after Danuel House’s waiver.

    • Logged four 40-point games before turning 21, joining Luka Dončić and Devin Booker in elite company.

    • Scored a career-high 42 points vs. Minnesota Timberwolves.

  • Breakout & Extension (2023–25):

    • With Alperen Şengün, became first under-21 duo with 30+ points and 10+ rebounds in a game (vs. Lakers, Jan. 2024).

    • Signed a 3-year, $106 million extension (Oct. 2024).

    • Matched Olajuwon’s feat: 40+ points on 72.2% shooting (vs. Grizzlies, Jan. 2025).

    • Dominated playoffs: 38 points in Game 2 vs. Warriors, tying Chris Paul’s Rockets playoff record with eight 3-pointers.

Global Impact & Heritage

  • FIBA Gold Medals:

    • 2017 FIBA U16 Americas Championship (9.8 PPG).

    • 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup MVP (15.7 PPG).

    • 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup (10.1 PPG).

  • The third NBA player of Filipino descent (after Raymond Townsend and Jordan Clarkson), he’s expressed interest in representing the Philippines nationally.

The Scouting Report: A Kinetic Force

At 6’4” with a 6’7.5” wingspan, Green blends elite athleticism, explosive first-step drives, and versatile scoring. Drawing comparisons to Zach LaVine, Kobe Bryant, and Bradley Beal, his handling skills and transition threat make him a nightmare in half-court sets and open floor. As one scout noted: “He doesn’t just score—he rewires defenses.”

Why Jalen Green Embodies the Modern NBA

Jalen Green’s journey—from Fresno AAU gyms to Rockets franchise pillar—mirrors basketball’s evolving landscape. His fearlessness in choosing the G League path, historic scoring milestones, and $106 million extension reflect a player engineered for stardom. In Houston, he’s not just building a career; he’s launching a legacy—one dunk, record, and playoff run at a time.

College recruiting information
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Jalen Green
SG		 Fresno, CA Prolific Prep (CA) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 180 lb (82 kg) — 
Recruit ratings: Rivals: 5/5 stars   247Sports: 5/5 stars   ESPN: 5/5 stars   (97)
Overall recruit ranking:    Rivals: 2    247Sports: 2    ESPN: 1
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

 

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS Games started  MPG Minutes per game
 FG% Field goal percentage  3P% 3-point field goal percentage  FT% Free throw percentage
 RPG Rebounds per game  APG Assists per game  SPG Steals per game
 BPG Blocks per game  PPG Points per game  Bold Career high
 * Led the league

NBA

Regular season

 
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021–22 Houston 67 67 31.9 .426 .343 .797 3.4 2.6 .7 .3 17.3
2022–23 Houston 76 76 34.2 .416 .338 .786 3.7 3.7 .8 .2 22.1
2023–24 Houston 82 82* 31.7 .423 .332 .804 5.2 3.5 .8 .3 19.6
2024–25 Houston 82* 82* 32.9 .423 .354 .813 4.6 3.4 .9 .3 21.0
Career 307 307 32.7 .422 .342 .799 4.3 3.4 .8 .3 20.1

Playoffs

 
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2025 Houston 7 7 31.3 .372 .295 .667 5.4 2.9 .6 .3 13.3
Career 7 7 31.3 .372 .295 .667 5.4 2.9 .6 .3 13.3

Personal life

Green’s mother, Bree Puruganan, is of partial Filipino descent through her grandfather.[88][89][90] His step-father, Marcus Green, was a basketball teammate of NBA player DeShawn Stevenson at Washington Union High School in Fresno. He has a younger sister.[4] Green is currently dating actress and fashion designer Draya Michele.[91] Their daughter was born on May 12, 2024.[92]

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