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Rockets star Jalen Green earns praise for strong play at Team USA training camp

ben dubose
·3 min read
1

As the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup nears, young Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green is among several top American prospects playing for Team USA’s Select Team at a Las Vegas training camp.

Comprised of rising young talents such as Green, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren, the Select Team’s purpose is to provide practice and scrimmage competition for the national team while also providing potential roster insurance in the event of any late withdrawal due to injury.

So far, several of those talented Select Team prospects appear to be turning heads — as evidenced by a convincing win over their older counterparts during Friday’s first day of scrimmage activity.

While official statistics haven’t been released, Green appears to be more than holding his own. “Green was effective against Team USA,” The Athletic’s Joe Vardon wrote after seeing Friday’s scrimmage.

From video clips and media reports, here’s a compilation of what we know to date regarding Green’s encouraging play in Las Vegas. Now 21 years old, Green led the Rockets in scoring at 22.1 points per game in 2022-23, which was his second NBA season. The athletic 6-foot-6 guard was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2021 first round.

Mark Jones on Jalen Green

From Mark Jones, national NBA broadcaster for ESPN and television play-by-play voice of the Sacramento Kings:

Joe Vardon: Jalen Green was effective

The Athletic’s Joe Vardon after Friday’s scrimmage:

Statistics for the scrimmage were not shared with the media, but reporters were welcomed into the gym on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to watch Cunningham dominate both periods, beating just about every guard who was in front of him off the dribble.

Jalen Green was effective against Team USA, as were Jalen Williams and Jalen Duren — who particularly bothered the World Cup favorites with his size.

“They handed it to us,” Team USA guard Tyrese Haliburton said. “The young guys did their thing today.”

Jalen Green interview

Rockets coach Ime Udoka visits Jalen Green

Jalen Green drains 3-pointers

Jalen Green in transition

Jalen Green finishing lobs

Jalen Green USA highlights compilation

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Story originally appeared on Rockets Wire