Since being drafted in 2021, Jalen Green has been seen as the cornerstone of the Houston Rockets. Alongside Alperen Sengun, he forms the bedrock of the team’s future. As Ime Udoka took over as head coach, he inherited a young squad brimming with potential. To add some veteran grit, Udoka brought in Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet.
Udoka is known for his demanding coaching style and high expectations. During Green’s end-of-season press conference, he shared Udoka’s vision for his role moving forward.
“I understand what Ime wants from me going into next year,” Green said. “At the start of the season, he emphasized becoming an all-around player, focusing on playmaking and defense. I feel I’ve grown a lot in those areas, improving my rebounding, defense, and making the right plays.”
Despite being a top prospect since entering the NBA, Green’s development has raised some questions. At 22, his game hasn’t significantly evolved since 2021. Udoka’s leadership aims to change that by pushing Green to become an elite two-way player, impacting the game beyond just scoring.
Houston needs Green to show significant progress. Drafted to be a star, he’s still young enough to make those leaps, but patience may start to wear thin. Green remains a potent offensive threat, evidenced by his performance in all 82 games this season, where he averaged 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, with shooting percentages of 42.3% from the field and 33.2% from three-point range.
Having an elite coach like Udoka could be crucial for Green’s growth. Whether he makes a major leap next season remains to be seen.
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