The Houston Rockets didn’t take any chances in the 2021 NBA Draft.
They went with a can’t-miss kind of talent, taking Jalen Green out of the G-League Ignite after he forwent college to spend a year training with pros.
And even though it hasn’t always been pretty, Green has shown glimpses of greatness and the upside to be one of the league’s most unstoppable scorers.
Those offensive skills were at his best during the Rockets’ loss to the Charlotte Hornets, as he had one of his most efficient outings of the season with 41 points on 16/24 shooting, going 4/10 from deep and 5/6 from the charity stripe.
You can’t convince Jalen Green isn’t going to be a superstar player in the future…
An efficient 41 with buckets like this is rare to see for a 20 year old. pic.twitter.com/uVVozCGkwe
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) January 19, 2023
There’s no doubt that Green has boasted superstar potential every now and then, but it’ll be tough for him to reach his ceiling on the Rockets, at least the way they’re constructed right now.
Stephen Silas’ team ranks dead-last in assists per game and total passes per game.
There’s a lot of isolation, a lot of one-on-one sets, and that’s just not winning basketball.
The Rockets need to move on and hire a coach that’s actually focused on player development, as well as bring in some veterans who can teach these young players the ropes of being an NBA player.
More than that, the Rockets need to put the ball in an actual point guard’s hands.
Kevin Porter Jr. also has star potential as a scorer, but he’s not a pass-first player or a natural playmaker, and that also takes a toll on Green’s efficiency.
All things considered, the Rockets have perhaps more young talent than any other team in the league.
Now, it’s all about maximizing it.
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