Jalen Green Responds to Backlash After 8-Point Game 7 Dud
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green made no excuses for his miserable outing during Sunday's season-ending Game 7 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Green had a rough showing for most of the series, aside from a 38-point outburst in Game 2. With the Rockets' season on the line in Game 7, he managed just eight points on 3-of-8 shooting, along with four rebounds and one assist.
Advertisement
Green averaged just 13.2 points per game in the series — a drop of nearly eight points from his regular-season average of 21.0. Green — the No. 2 overall pick in 2021 — faced backlash for his play after the Rockets were eliminated.
"Jalen Green is the biggest disappointment in Houston Rockets history," one fan said.
Another added: "Jalen Green deactivated his socials and tried to go Zero Dark Thirty mode just to have one fake good game in a series that went the distance."
Green addressed his poor play head-on after the season-ending loss.
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green.© Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
"I gotta be better," Green said. "First playoff isn't an excuse.'
Advertisement
Rockets coach Ime Udoka credited the Warriors for their game plan around slowing Green down.
'You have to look at it as a sign of respect, the way they went after him," Udoka said. "Their objective was to take him out of the series. ... He didn't get a ton of shots, honestly, in the series. It's going to sting for him to not have his best performance in this series."
The Rockets shift their focus to the offseason, while the Warriors gear up for a second-round showdown with the Timberwolves.
Related: Rockets Send Message on Fred VanVleet's Future After Game 7 Loss
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
‘You couldn't pay us enough': Stephen A. Smith relays Rockets' response to Ime Udoka rumor
'You couldn't pay us enough': Stephen A. Smith relays Rockets' response to Ime Udoka rumor Stephen A. Smith on potential Rockets-Knicks talks: 'Ime Udoka ain't going anywhere, I got that text message. 'You don't have enough,' they said.' The New York Knicks reportedly have interest in hiring Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, but Udoka remains under contract with Houston for multiple future seasons. Coming off a season with the NBA's fourth-best record and a young and improving roster, the Rockets like the course they're on. Moreover, Udoka finished third in 2024-25 NBA Coach of the Year voting. So, there's not much incentive for Houston — even if offered lucrative compensation — to consider letting Udoka out of his contract to speak with the Knicks. Per ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith, who happens to be a longtime Knicks fan, that's the message he's seemingly heard from Houston. On Tuesday's First Take, Smith said: Ime Udoka is one of the best coaches in the NBA. This brother is something better. When Jay Williams brought up about the New York Knicks reaching out to Houston, I got a text. 'You don't have enough,' they said. 'You couldn't pay us enough.' Ime Udoka ain't going anywhere, I got that text message, he's not going anywhere. And damn right, they should hold onto him for dear life. Smith's complete comments on Udoka and the Rockets can be viewed below. In recent days, the Knicks have seemingly shifted their focus to Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, who does appear to have some level of interest in the New York vacancy. It is possible that New York's interest could be leveraged by Udoka and his representation in upcoming negotiations with the Rockets, who are likely planning to give him a contract extension by the 2026 offseason at the latest (his current deal will end after the 2026-27 season). Stay tuned! More: Reports: With sudden coaching vacancy, Knicks intrigued by Houston's Ime Udoka
USA Today
18 hours ago
- USA Today
Golden State Warriors jersey history - No. 14 - Claude Overton (1952-53)
Golden State Warriors jersey history - No. 14 - Claude Overton (1952-53) The Golden State Warriors have had over 600 players don the more than 60 jersey numbers used by their players over the more than 75 years of existence the team has enjoyed in its rich and storied history. Founded in 1946 during the Basketball Association of America (BAA -- a precursor league of the NBA) era, the team has called home the cities of Philadelphia, San Francisco, Oakland, and even San Diego. To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Warriors Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. For this article, we begin with the seventh of 13 players who wore the No. 14 jersey for the Warriors. That player would be Golden State guard alum Claude Overton. After ending his college career at East Central University, Overton was picked up with the 53rd overall selection of the 1950 NBA draft by the (defunct) Washington Capitols. The Temple, Oklahoma native would later join the (then) Philadelphia (now, Golden State) Warriors instead in 1952 after two seasons playing in other domestic leagues. His stay with the team would span a single season, his last in the NBA. During his time suiting up for the Warriors, Overton wore only jersey No. 14 and put up 3.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jonathan Kuminga Wants To Leave The Warriors This Summer And Follow His Dream Of Being An All-Star Player
Jonathan Kuminga Wants To Leave The Warriors This Summer And Follow His Dream Of Being An All-Star Player originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Golden State Warriors are officially out of the NBA playoffs after a second-round defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves. This summer, the Dubs will respond with several roster moves, and Jonathan Kuminga is at the top of the list. According to the latest intel, the young swingman is eager to branch out of Golden State and prove himself as a leading star in another organization. Advertisement "Kuminga, league sources said, still has visions of becoming an All-Star, not fitting into an ever-moving mid-tier rotation role," wrote The Athletic's Anthony Slater. "He wants to be a featured player in an NBA offense and chase the 20-point-and-beyond dreams he's spent his life chasing, and the last week of his fourth season tasting. There isn't an irreconcilable player-and-coach or player-and-organization personality clash, league sources said. This is all about finding the contract and opportunity Kuminga craves." Kuminga, 22, was drafted 7th overall by the Warriors in 2021. After a promising rookie campaign, Kuminga earned a larger role after helping the Warriors win the title. Slowly but surely, he's been moving up the Warriors' hierarchy and taking on increasingly large roles. In the 2024-25 campaign, however, Kuminga's place on the team became unclear as Steve Kerr began to cut back his minutes and opportunities. Down to an average of 24.3 minutes per game, Kerr lost faith in Jonathan, especially down the stretch when he received several DNPs in the playoffs. Now, his future is in doubt with his contract set to expire at the end of this season. "The Warriors' front office, Kuminga's representatives, and the league are expected to explore all options into July," wrote Slater. "But team sources have been hinting that, because of these market and financial restrictions, there's a likely world where the most obvious and prudent path is for them to bring Kuminga back and figure the rest out later." Advertisement On paper, Kuminga is putting up decent numbers and looks like a promising young swingman. This past season, he averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game on 45.5% shooting. At 6'8" and 210 pounds, he's an ideal size at the forward position, but frequent lapses in judgment have hindered his growth on the Warriors. Now, after losing in the Semifinals, Kuminga has a chance to decide his own NBA future, but it's impossible to say where he'll be when it's all said and done. With his skills, Kuminga could be a great addition for a young, developing team like the Spurs, Pistons, or the Orlando Magic. Depending on what he asks for in his next contract, he might also be chased by some title contenders looking for one final piece. These teams include the Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Rockets, who were all in the NBA playoffs this year. Despite his current wishes, it's also possible that Kuminga will end up back in Golden State. With the rise of Jimmy Butler, his services aren't needed nearly as much, but the Warriors may decide to take another chance on him as a key piece to their future. Advertisement With so much potential and an impressive work ethic, Jonathan Kuminga believes he's ready for a bigger role, and he might be willing to leave the Warriors behind to pursue it. Related: Draymond Green Wouldn't Trade Jonathan Kuminga For LeBron James This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
