Report: Jalen Green’s Frustrations This Season With Rockets ‘Have Been Clear’

According to NBA reporter Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green‘s frustrations this season “have been clear.”

Green has been benched by head coach Ime Udoka several times in the fourth quarter during critical moments.

“Green’s frustrations this season have been clear,” Iko wrote. “I was in the building last Friday for one of Houston’s more impressive home wins of the season over the Phoenix Suns. Green was glued to the bench for the entire fourth quarter. He didn’t look happy. This isn’t the first, second or third time that he’s not been on the floor in critical moments. It probably won’t be the last, either.”

Green is averaging 17.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists this season while shooting 40.6% from the field, 30.8% from beyond the arc and 80.2% from the free-throw line. The 22-year-old has a plus-minus of -94.

Green has the third-worst effective field goal percentage and the 11th-worst true shooting percentage in the NBA this season.

The Rockets are 25-33. They are in 12th place in the Western Conference standings. 

“On the whole, Green’s decision-making has improved since last season,” Iko wrote. “Of course, there are still instances where he drives into oncoming traffic and his handle still needs some tightening, but as far as making the right reads the third-year guard has gotten better. That’s a natural development playing with better players around you.”

The Rockets selected Green with the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Green has career averages of 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists. 

Houston tried to trade Green and draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges at this year’s trade deadline, sources told Hoops Wire. The Nets, though, were not interested in making a deal. 

It will be intriguing to see how Green finishes this season. His points per game, assists per game and shooting percentages have dropped from last season.