It will probably be a while before the Houston Rockets reach the NBA playoffs again.
After they maxed out the potential of a team that made it as far as the 2018 Western Conference Finals, they traded both James Harden and Russell Westbrook in 2020 and 2021, respectively, triggering a long-term rebuilding project.
The Rockets do have a couple of intriguing prospects for the future, and one of them is Jalen Green, who was the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft.
Although he still has a long way to go before he puts it all together, he showed a glimmer of promise late this season, and this offseason, he has been hard at work looking to tap into his potential.
Off-season Jalen Green 🔋 pic.twitter.com/HFVlehIJQF
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) May 31, 2023
Green, a 6-foot-4 guard, passed on attending college in order to play for the NBA’s G League Ignite after growing up in rural central California.
When he made himself available for the 2021 NBA Draft, he was lauded for his one-on-one skills and shooting ability, and he was even compared to some of the game’s best one-on-one shooting guards, such as Bradley Beal.
Thus far in his career, Green has been an inefficient player, shooting just 42 percent overall and 34 percent from 3-point range in his two seasons.
However, in March of this season, he went on a mini-tear which included a 40-point game against the New Orleans Pelicans, and in all, he had four games of at least 40 points this season.
If Green ever realizes his full potential, the Rockets should be able to fly high once again.
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