These first days of the year 2025 resemble the days of March 2024 for Jalen Green. We remember that at the end of last season, the back experienced heat stroke during a few matches. Like today. With one notable difference: the context. Last spring, the Rockets lost Alperen Sengun and needed a player who could do more.
There, the player's performances are part of an efficient collective – Houston is second in the Western Conference – and are particularly impressive in their efficiency. In eight matches since we left 2024, Jalen Green has averaged 30.3 points at 52% shooting success and 48% 3-point shooting, while losing only 1.9 balls per match.
“I like his efforts in defense, which are probably overlooked or underestimated when we talk about him,” likes to emphasize Ime Udoka. “He took care of Desmond Bane and Ja Morant recently, they wanted to play him and he held up well. »
But it is indeed with his points that he will be able to find a place among the new stars of the league, like Ja Morant and Anthony Edwards before him. “I am part of this world. And if that's not the case, which no one thinks, then I'm going to continue to demonstrate it.”he announces.
He will only be 23 in February…
With the Rockets having a great season and him also having the best numbers of his career, is this an automatic ticket to the All-Star Game next month? “He’s an All-Star, there’s nothing else to say”, estimated Cam Whitmore. “Second in the West, and they’re our two best players, so that should make sense.”adds Amen Thompson who also wants to see Alperen Sengun among the stars.
“Often, we have a season that is close to that of the All-Star Game and we go there the second year,” says Fred VanVleet, who played in the 2022 All-Star Game. “These two had good seasons last year and they are on their way. These two are one of the reasons for the team's success this year, so they should be rewarded for that. »
Even without a first star, Jalen Green seems to have taken a step forward recently, both on offense and on defense. “He is a year older, has gained a year of maturity. He is more powerful and the game is slower for him”continues the 2019 champion with Toronto.
Because, insists Jabari Smith Jr, the player certainly already has 265 matches under his belt and is in his fourth season in the NBA, but he remains very, very young. “People have expectations of consistency when they forget that he is only 22 years old. Not everyone has the keys at 22, not everyone is regular at that age. The older he gets, the slower it gets and becomes easier for him. And we'll see the same thing night after night. »
| Jalen Green | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2021-22 | HOU | 67 | 32 | 42.6 | 34.3 | 79.7 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 17.3 |
| 2022-23 | HOU | 76 | 34 | 41.6 | 33.8 | 78.6 | 0.6 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 22.1 |
| 2023-24 | HOU | 82 | 32 | 42.3 | 33.2 | 80.4 | 0.5 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 19.6 |
| 2024-25 | HOU | 40 | 33 | 43.4 | 35.7 | 87.5 | 0.6 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 21.5 |
| Total | 265 | 33 | 42.3 | 34.0 | 80.6 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 20.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
