Latest news with #JalenGreen
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Would Jalen Green flourish in a No. 2 role for Houston? One West scout thinks he could
The Oklahoma City Thunder are headed to the 2025 NBA Finals, and they wrapped up the 2024-25 regular season with the NBA's best record. To say the least, the Western Conference champions are doing a lot of things right. And while Houston (52-30) finished at No. 2 in the West, that was a whopping 16 games back of the Thunder (68-14). Advertisement So, the Rockets still have a ways to go to reach the true top tier of NBA title contention. Yet, there are some similarities between the young roster in Houston and that of the Thunder. Via Michael Shapiro of A lackluster playoff series and inconsistent performances over four seasons have left many questioning Jalen Green's future in Houston (he's trade eligible in July after signing a three-year, $106 million contract extension last summer). Some prefer a more patient approach, hoping Ime Udoka's program can bring out the best in a talented former No. 2 pick. 'He can't guard like [Oklahoma City Thunder forward] Jalen Williams, but they're not that different as shooters and slashers. They [can play a] similar role,' a Western Conference scout told Chron. 'With [Green], he can't disappear like he did in so many playoff games. It's not really a skills thing.' The Rockets had a top-five defense all season, so they should be fine on that end of the court, regardless. The questions are on offense, where Green was the leading scorer for a Houston team that struggled in halfcourt situations for most of the year. Relative to the Oklahoma City model, the Green-Williams analogy falls apart here, as the teams are currently constructed. Williams is the clear No. 2 option for the Thunder behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA's leading scorer and Most Valuable Player (MVP). That hierarchy can lead to Williams, a 2025 All-Star, being able to selectively choose his spots — and often from advantaged situations due to the attention drawn by Gilgeous-Alexander. That typically leads to greater efficiency. Advertisement In theory, it's plausible that Green could perform comparably in a similar role. But the question becomes who the top-scoring option in Houston would otherwise be. After all, there's nothing close to an 'SGA' on the current roster. Perhaps there's another leap to be had from Amen Thompson or All-Star center Alperen Sengun. Maybe second-year guard Reed Sheppard emerges onto the scene. Or maybe, as Shapiro speculates, an offseason trade for a superstar (Giannis Antetokounmpo, anyone?) pushes everyone down a peg in the hierarchy. Should any of those things happen, it's possible that Green could be viewed in a different light, if he's asked to take on a different role in the 2025-26 season. But as things stand today, that's a significant if. Advertisement More: Entering 2025 offseason, Rockets urged to 'level up' the offense This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: West scout sees similarities in Jalen Green, Jalen Williams
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
June 2025 update: The Ringer ranks six Rockets among NBA's top 100 players
The Houston Rockets finished the 2024-25 regular season with the second-best record (52-30) in the Western Conference, and yet they didn't have a single All-NBA player. 'Sometimes you, sometimes me, always us,' was the team's unofficial mantra. Advertisement With that in mind, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Houston is among the league leaders in its volume of quantity players. In The Ringer's June 2025 rankings of the NBA's top-100 players (out of more than 500 in the league), the Rockets have six representatives in total. Though the Rockets represent just one out of 30 teams (3.3%), they've nearly doubled that percentage in top-100 players (6.0%). In effect, Houston largely overcame its lack of superstar quality with a greater depth and quantity of very good players. Here is a roundup of Houston's six players on the list, along with a brief description of each from The Ringer. Deeper analysis is available at the full list. No. 36: Alperen Sengun Passing warlock with Rumble Pak physicality whose development arrow keeps pointing up. No. 41: Amen Thompson Apositional wonderregularly challenging the laws of space and time. No. 64: Fred VanVleet Houston's no-nonsense primary caregiver, whose high-volume 3-point shooting and elite defensive instincts allow him to transcend his stature. No. 88: Tari Eason Lightning in a bottle of gasoline, quickly asserting himself as one of the most overwhelming perimeter defenders in the league. No. 93: Dillon Brooks Physical pot stirrer whose persona overshadows some tough shotmaking and hard-nosed defense. No. 98: Jalen Green Stupefying athlete with the veneer of an elite scorer. If only the underlying numbers painted the same portrait. Advertisement The Ringer's complete list of all top-100 NBA players can be viewed here. More: Would Jalen Green flourish in a No. 2 role for Houston? One West scout thinks he could This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: June 2025 update: The Ringer ranks six Rockets among NBA's top 100
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
June 2025 update: The Ringer ranks six Rockets among NBA's top 100 players
June 2025 update: The Ringer ranks six Rockets among NBA's top 100 players Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Fred VanVleet, Tari Eason, Dillon Brooks, and Jalen Green are all in The Ringer's latest top-100 NBA player rankings. The Houston Rockets finished the 2024-25 regular season with the second-best record (52-30) in the Western Conference, and yet they didn't have a single All-NBA player. 'Sometimes you, sometimes me, always us,' was the team's unofficial mantra. With that in mind, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Houston is among the league leaders in its volume of quantity players. In The Ringer's June 2025 rankings of the NBA's top-100 players (out of more than 500 in the league), the Rockets have six representatives in total. Though the Rockets represent just one out of 30 teams (3.3%), they've nearly doubled that percentage in top-100 players (6.0%). In effect, Houston largely overcame its lack of superstar quality with a greater depth and quantity of very good players. Here is a roundup of Houston's six players on the list, along with a brief description of each from The Ringer. Deeper analysis is available at the full list. No. 36: Alperen Sengun Passing warlock with Rumble Pak physicality whose development arrow keeps pointing up. No. 41: Amen Thompson Apositional wonderregularly challenging the laws of space and time. No. 64: Fred VanVleet Houston's no-nonsense primary caregiver, whose high-volume 3-point shooting and elite defensive instincts allow him to transcend his stature. No. 88: Tari Eason Lightning in a bottle of gasoline, quickly asserting himself as one of the most overwhelming perimeter defenders in the league. No. 93: Dillon Brooks Physical pot stirrer whose persona overshadows some tough shotmaking and hard-nosed defense. No. 98: Jalen Green Stupefying athlete with the veneer of an elite scorer. If only the underlying numbers painted the same portrait. The Ringer's complete list of all top-100 NBA players can be viewed here. More: Would Jalen Green flourish in a No. 2 role for Houston? One West scout thinks he could
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Would Jalen Green flourish in a No. 2 role for Houston? One West scout thinks he could
Would Jalen Green flourish in a No. 2 role for Houston? One West scout thinks he could 'He can't guard like Jalen Williams, but they're not that different as shooters and slashers,' a Western Conference scout (via says of Rockets guard Jalen Green. The Oklahoma City Thunder are headed to the 2025 NBA Finals, and they wrapped up the 2024-25 regular season with the NBA's best record. To say the least, the Western Conference champions are doing a lot of things right. And while Houston (52-30) finished at No. 2 in the West, that was a whopping 16 games back of the Thunder (68-14). So, the Rockets still have a ways to go to reach the true top tier of NBA title contention. Yet, there are some similarities between the young roster in Houston and that of the Thunder. Via Michael Shapiro of A lackluster playoff series and inconsistent performances over four seasons have left many questioning Jalen Green's future in Houston (he's trade eligible in July after signing a three-year, $106 million contract extension last summer). Some prefer a more patient approach, hoping Ime Udoka's program can bring out the best in a talented former No. 2 pick. 'He can't guard like [Oklahoma City Thunder forward] Jalen Williams, but they're not that different as shooters and slashers. They [can play a] similar role,' a Western Conference scout told Chron. 'With [Green], he can't disappear like he did in so many playoff games. It's not really a skills thing.' The Rockets had a top-five defense all season, so they should be fine on that end of the court, regardless. The questions are on offense, where Green was the leading scorer for a Houston team that struggled in halfcourt situations for most of the year. Relative to the Oklahoma City model, the Green-Williams analogy falls apart here, as the teams are currently constructed. Williams is the clear No. 2 option for the Thunder behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA's leading scorer and Most Valuable Player (MVP). That hierarchy can lead to Williams, a 2025 All-Star, being able to selectively choose his spots — and often from advantaged situations due to the attention drawn by Gilgeous-Alexander. That typically leads to greater efficiency. In theory, it's plausible that Green could perform comparably in a similar role. But the question becomes who the top-scoring option in Houston would otherwise be. After all, there's nothing close to an 'SGA' on the current roster. Perhaps there's another leap to be had from Amen Thompson or All-Star center Alperen Sengun. Maybe second-year guard Reed Sheppard emerges onto the scene. Or maybe, as Shapiro speculates, an offseason trade for a superstar (Giannis Antetokounmpo, anyone?) pushes everyone down a peg in the hierarchy. Should any of those things happen, it's possible that Green could be viewed in a different light, if he's asked to take on a different role in the 2025-26 season. But as things stand today, that's a significant if. More: Entering 2025 offseason, Rockets urged to 'level up' the offense
Newsweek
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Rockets Young Star Named 'Untouchable' Amid Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Houston Rockets vastly overperformed this past year, finishing the regular season as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Despite this, Houston did fall short in the postseason, losing to the Golden State Warriors in the first round. More NBA news: Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors Heat Up With Latest Report But the Rockets' young core showed a lot of promise and took a massive step forward. Due to this, Houston is now seen as a threat in the West, and it could have them be very active this offseason. The Rockets have been heavily linked to Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo early in the summer. Due to Houston having a ton of draft picks and young players to send out for Antetokounmpo, the Rockets do make a lot of sense as a landing spot. Houston could offer any of Alperen Sengün, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard, or even Amen Thompson in any potential deal. But one of the young stars is being seen as untouchable for the Rockets entering the offseason. According to Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report, Thompson should be seen as "untouchable" despite all the trade rumors swirling. "Thompson is more valuable than all of them. An A-plus athlete who made the All-Defensive first team, the spring-loaded wing seized a starting job midway through the year and established himself as one of the top young players in the league. Playmaking instincts, elite rebounding for his position and unsurpassed defensive disruption make Thompson a foundational asset. If the Rockets swing a deal for a superstar, they'll work hardest to keep Thompson out of it." LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 14: Amen Thompson #1, Tari Eason #17, Alperen Sengun #28 and Jalen Green #4 of the Houston Rockets walk on the court after a timeout in the first half of... LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 14: Amen Thompson #1, Tari Eason #17, Alperen Sengun #28 and Jalen Green #4 of the Houston Rockets walk on the court after a timeout in the first half of a semifinal game of the Emirates NBA Cup against the Oklahoma City Thunder at T-Mobile Arena on December 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. More Photo byThompson took another step forward this year and was massive in helping the Rockets become one of the better teams in the NBA. His dual-threat ability is special and gives the Rockets a legitimate weapon to use on the court. More NBA news: Top 5 Landing Spots For Kevin Durant Amid Trade Rumors For the season, Thompson averaged 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. The forward even improved on his 3-point shooting, going from 13.8 percent in his rookie year to 27.5 percent this past year. If Houston were to make a move for a player like Antetokounmpo or even Kevin Durant, they would be wise to avoid trading Thompson. The Rockets have built themselves up nicely, but it may be time to push the chips in for a star. More NBA news: Suns Rumors: Big Announcement Made on Head Coaching Search Lakers Listed as Potential Landing Spot For All-Star Center For more on the Rockets and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
