Why Jalen Green will play big minutes for Rockets from first game
For as many as three of the four players selected by the Rockets in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft, their 2021-22 rookie seasons could potentially feature stints with Houston’s G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. This would allow them to play significantly more minutes than what is likely to be available at the NBA level.
The exception among Houston’s rookies, of course, is Jalen Green. Being the No. 2 overall pick in a loaded draft brings far higher expectations relative to picks that came later in the same round, and he did nothing to diminish them with a strong performance at summer league. The 6-foot-6 guard is widely viewed as a future “face of the franchise” player.
But in addition to simply his draft slot and talent, Green’s mental makeup is another reason why the Rockets appear committed to giving him immediate playing time in the NBA. On the Sept. 12 episode of Texas Sports Nation, Houston Chronicle beat writer Jonathan Feigen explains:
You know with Jalen Green, they’re going to be playing him, anyway. Ready or not, they’re going to be throwing him into the deep end. With Jalen, you know he’s so important to their future. They’re going to play him. He’s going to get minutes, one way or another, regardless. …
Jalen Green, it almost doesn’t matter how he does. And the thing with him, he’s so confident and so sure of his abilities. Not just to fit in right away, but long-term. He’s not a guy who, if he struggles, you worry about if it will hurt him. He’ll be fine. He’ll learn from mistakes.
You need to learn that about other young guys. How will they be, if they struggle? Do you want to take it easy with them, to not put them through bad times, too much? With Green, they’re already confident. He can handle that. There are struggles that are going to happen, especially with all the attention that’s going to be on him. He can handle it, he’ll learn from it, and he’s got the physical abilities to find another way [if needed].
Green will report to training camp with the rest of the Rockets in late September, with their 2021-22 preseason opener scheduled for Oct. 5 and the regular season on Oct. 20. With veteran guard John Wall no longer in the team’s plans, it appears that Green and Kevin Porter Jr. are the probable starting backcourt in Houston, assuming health.
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