The game was already over, but Dillon Brooks and the other Rockets on the bench stood up to salute the basket with the foul of Jalen Green. On the Wizards floor, the Texan guard gave his team a more than 20-point lead and crossed the 40-point mark with two minutes left to play.
“ These guys supported me throughout the year, even when I was having a hard time, they continued to try to give me confidence. They were pushing me to reach 40 points “, reports the interested party after the meeting. With his left hand on the action in question, the 22-year-old player had just cut through a weak defense for the umpteenth time, which found no solution against him.
Despite the frequent use of two-person shots. “ He beat them sometimes, he wasn't too aggressive in trying to get around them. He made the right choice whether entering or passing, and showed progress. He and the others sometimes struggled with two-on-ones earlier in the season », appreciates his coach Ime Udokaaccording to whom his player “ didn't force anything » and let the game come to him.
The Rockets coach recalls a major principle concerning his attacker: “ We accept the result as long as he takes the right shots […] His self-confidence skyrockets when he lands one or two. »And his confidence at the moment is sky high. Author of a recent 37-point outing against the same Wizards, the guard has just won the title of best player of the week.
Signs that don't deceive
A few weeks earlier, he had two 34-point games against the Suns. His points average then went from 18 units before the All-Star Game to 23 units after this break, with better percentages. “ The number of assists, skill, defensive investment, there are real improvements in all these areas. Even before the All-Star Break, we could see some signs “, remarked his coach.
Signs of maturity? “ I had periods where I was in great shape, then more complicated periods. My main goal is to continue to enjoy my good performances, to be as consistent as possible and to impact the game, even when I don't shoot well. “, displays the one who matched his career best this night with 42 points (12/21 on shots including 7/13 from distance) and 10 rebounds.
Individual distinctions, like this player of the week trophy? “ It does not matter. We have this goal of going to the playoffs », Recalls Jalen Green whose team (33 wins – 35 losses) remains on the verge of “play-in” thanks to its current series of six consecutive victories.
| 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 | 67 | 31 | 41.7 | 32.1 | 80.6 | 0.5 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 18.7 |
| Total | 210 | 33 | 41.9 | 33.4 | 79.4 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 19.5 | |
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.
