The Houston Rockets do not have a problem with Jalen Green.
“He’s been phenomenal all year as far as (reading the defense),” Rockets head coach Ime Udoka says, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “I think he really grew toward the end of last year. Now it looks like he’s getting whatever he wants, whether it’s for himself or others. Some of those that he used to miss at times and kind of rush into a crowd, over-penetrate, he’s (now) making the right reads.”
Rockets’ Ime Udoka Commends Jalen Green For Major Change
Green, the 2021 No. 2 pick, has had an up and down career thus far. As a rookie, he flashed a lot of promise, averaging 17.3 points and 2.6 assists per game. After finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting, it seemed like the sky was the limit for the high-flyer. In his second season, Green broke the sound barrier, averaging 22.1 points and 3.7 assists per game. However, the regression in his efficiency spoke to his need to play a more mature game.
That might not have been what Ime Udoka was expected to bring out of Green when he was hired as the Rockets head coach in 2022.
As a player, Udoka was a defensive specialist. In his lone year coaching the Boston Celtics, they ranked first in opponent’s points per game (104.5) and second in defensive rating (106.9). That isn’t to say that Udoka didn’t understand how to coach a top-notch offense. Nonetheless, his background only provided evidence that he would improve the Rockets defensively.
In 2023-24, after hiring Udoka and adding the defensive-minded Dillon Brooks, Houston ranked 14th in opponent’s points per game (113.2) and ninth in defensive rating (113.4). This was a significant improvement from the previous season, when the Rockets ranked 28th in opponent’s points per game (118.6) and 29th in defensive rating (119.3). That being said, Udoka’s best work may have been getting Green to lock in.
Pushing The Right Buttons
Green had a tendency to float around the court, only impacting the game offensively. This prompted Udoka to push Green to crash the glass. Though Green had demonstrated the ability to be a commendable defender, he needed to improve his effort and technique. Green seeing that Udoka was more likely to leave him on the court when he played great defense sharpened his focus.
At the same time, the game started to slow down for Green. He was making better reads and taking smarter shots. To be frank, Udoka’s tough love approach could’ve backfired. Green was discontented by his lack of opportunities on offense. However, his competitive nature outweighed his frustration, and he met the challenge head-on.
If Udoka didn’t want to put the ball in his hands more, he was going to prove why he should.
Rounding The Corner
After the All-Star Break, Green averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 36.8 percent from three. His best work came after Alperen Sengun suffered a scary leg injury against the Sacramento Kings in March. Over the next nine games, Green averaged 31.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 50.5 percent shooting from the field and 46.8 percent from deep.
The Rockets won every one of them, which put them back in playoff contention. Prior to the start of the 2024-25 season, Green was essentially rewarded with a contract extension for his play in the back half of 2023-24. For a player who was on the trade block a few months prior, it was a rapid turnaround.
The biggest question was whether Green’s play would carry over from the end of last season. In the summer, he was working on his mechanics and reads in clips posted on social media. However, offseason workouts don’t always translate to actual game play.
As it turns out, the Rockets didn’t have much to worry about. Though the jury is still out on just how good Green can be, he’s performing at an All-Star level early in the season.
After four games, the 22-year-old is averaging 28.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 0.8 steals per game. His scoring average, field goal percentage (.432), three-point percentage (.413), and free-throw percentage (.833) are all career-highs. There are still 78 games left on the schedule, but Houston couldn’t have hoped for a much better start than this.
