As many around the NBA had long suspected, Houston selected G League Ignite guard Jalen Green at No. 2 overall in the first round of Thursday’s 2021 draft. Wearing a red Rockets cap, the 19-year-old happily took the stage at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and shook the hand of commissioner Adam Silver upon hearing the announcement.
An explosive 6-foot-6 guard with significant potential as a scorer, Green averaged 17.9 points (46.1% FG, 36.5% on 3-pointers), 4.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 15 regular-season games at this year’s G League bubble. Green was one of the first elite prospects to take advantage of the league’s new “professional pathway” program, which he believes offered superior NBA preparation relative to college basketball.
Green worked out in Houston earlier this week, and he told reporters that he saw himself as a “good fit” with the Rockets. He already appears to have a strong relationship with 21-year-old guard Kevin Porter Jr., and that duo now appears to be Houston’s backcourt of the future and at the heart of their rebuilding efforts in the post-James Harden era.
Additional scouting information on Green and all other prospects can be found at The Ringer’s 2021 NBA Draft Guide, as analyzed by league insider Kevin O’Connor. Houston entered the draft with two additional first-round picks at No. 23 and No. 24 overall — and barring trades, those selections will be made later Thursday evening.
Stick with Rockets Wire throughout Thursday night for reaction from Houston general manager Rafael Stone and interviews with each of the draft prospects selected by the Rockets.
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