Houston Rockets’ third-year guard, Jalen Green, has had a trying and frustrating season. Playing a career-low 30.3 minutes per game, he’s down to 26.2 minutes following the All-Star Break. Routinely pulled off the court late in games by head coach Ime Udoka due to issues with his efficiency, energy, and ball control, Green has reportedly grown frustrated during his time in Houston.
In fact, per The Athletic insider Kelly Iko, Green’s “frustrations this season have been clear.”
“I was in the building last Friday for one of Houston’s more impressive home wins of the season over the Phoenix Suns,” Iko said. “Green was glued to the bench for the entire fourth quarter. He didn’t look happy. This isn’t the first, second or third time that he’s not been on the floor in critical moments.”
Leaving his readers — and perhaps Green — with a daunting message, Iko concludes, “It probably won’t be the last, either.”
Houston Rockets’ First-Round Pick Growing Increasingly Frustrated
The Rockets Don’t Trust Jalen Green
After their victory against the Phoenix Suns on February 23, Udoka addressed Green’s playing time in the fourth quarter. Yet, in citing point guard Amen Thompson’s defensive versatility and their desire for size, he left more questions than answers.
As Udoka noted, six-foot point guard Aaron Holiday was targeted in the fourth quarter while six-foot point guard Fred VanVleet rested.
If size and defensive versatility are the desired traits, switching Thompson out for either makes sense. The 2023 No. 4 pick is an upper echelon athlete with excellent size at six-foot-seven, 209 pounds. However, it doesn’t make sense for Holiday or VanVleet to have been out there.
More to the point, it would seem as if Udoka didn’t fully disclose his reasons for keeping Green on the bench for all but two seconds that period. After all, Green’s efficiency has been an issue throughout the season, and he was 5-13 from the field heading into the fourth quarter. Yet, he was also 3-6 from three-point range,
For comparison, VanVleet was 7-12 from the field (6-11 from three-point range) entering the fourth quarter before going 0-3 from deep in the final frame. Notably, he shoots 40.6% from the field this season, tied for the second-lowest mark on the team with Green.
With that said, the truth is much more simple. Udoka and the Rockets don’t trust Green. VanVleet (and Holiday) doesn’t have the size or defensive upside of Thompson, nor are they particularly efficient. However, they’re both more experienced and reliable, particularly from deep. While VanVleet shoots 37.2% from beyond the arc, Holiday shoots 41.0%.
Mistakes Along the Way
With the Rockets being coached by Stephen Silas in Green’s first two seasons, one wonders if the former G League Ignite standout was drafted by the wrong NBA team.
One of the primary gripes against Silas was his inability to improve his team or players. Silas was also criticized for the lack of stability in his rotations and substitution patterns. This is an issue that Udoka appears to have as well.
Furthermore, instead of building a team around Green and Alperen Şengün — both drafted in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft — they played the role of a parts collector. Rather than focusing on fit, they focused on star power.
To that point, after drafting Green and Sengun, they selected Jabari Smith Jr. third overall in 2022. At that point, it was rumored that they preferred the eventual Rookie of the Year in Paolo Banchero. Yet, instead of making a move to get a prototypical forward in Banchero, they settled. Even worse, when presented with the opportunity to draft a very similar prospect in Jalen Williams.
A year later, the Rockets drafted Thompson and Cam Whitmore in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft. Neither of their fits were questionable. Even Whitmore, a score-first player, made sense as a pick despite the promise of defensive-minded forward Tari Eason. What didn’t make sense was overpaying players at the same positions as VanVleet and Dillon Brooks.
Keep in mind that their primary need at the time was a suitable rim-protector and off-ball shooting threat. Roles that then free agents such as Draymond Green, Donte DiVincenzo, and Bol Bol could have filled.
Even the Head Coach?
The jury is still out on Udoka as head coach.
Nonetheless, a strategist and championship-winning head coach in Nick Nurse was available in the offseason. Coaches that thrive in player development, such as Kevin Ollie — Thompson’s head coach at Overtime Elite — and Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez — the Canadian national team’s head coach — were available.
Udoka is passionate and defensive-minded, two of his best qualities as a player and a coach.
However, Udoka also micromanages as a coach while not necessarily being a great play-caller. Furthermore, his player development leaves a lot to be desired. He’s prone to being overly reliant on veterans, even when they’re struggling. The in-season progress made by various first-round picks — Green and Smith Jr.— has also been underwhelming.
What’s Next for Jalen Green?
The writing already appears to be on the wall for Green in Houston.
Barring a late-season turnaround, he could be shipped out as early as this offseason. There are already rumors that the Rockets are willing to include him and a pick in a trade for a wing, such as Brooklyn Nets star Mikal Bridges. That said, the Rockets could very well trade Green, no matter what.
