Kyrie Irving on Tuesday took a few minutes to speak with rookie Jalen Green after the Brooklyn Nets hosted the Houston Rockets at the Barclays Center. But the gesture wasn’t anything new for the former NBA champion.
Irving, in his 11th season, often takes time to catch up with the up-and-coming players. He offers players like Green advice when needed in an effort to help pave the way for those players, much like those that came before him helped his generation.
On Tuesday, Irving saw firsthand how impressive Green has been.
Green finished with 30 points, six rebounds and two assists in the 118-105 loss for his fifth straight 30-point game. He became the first rookie since Allen Iverson during the 1996-97 season to record 30 points in five straight games.
Afterward, Irving, who had 42 points and six assists, caught up with Green and revealed his message to him.
I try to have a positive outlook with these guys and just tell them I’m always around. As a young fella coming into the league, you kinda want to have that ego. You’re only 19, 20-years-old and sometimes it can be a little intimidating to ask for guidance but those that want to know the information come to your doorstep and they want to know the answers. I have a few answers to give them. I just look forward to seeing them grow and mature and see where they end up when they’re sitting in my seat 11 years from now.
The two first connected before Green entered the NBA. Irving gave Green his phone number and told him to keep in touch and reach out for advice when needed. Green often watched the likes of Irving and others play and now has him available at his disposal.
“I look forward to seeing them grow and mature and seeing where they end up when they are sitting in my seat 11 years from now,” said Nets guard Kyrie Irving when I asked him about the young Rockets backcourt of Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. #Rockets #Sarge pic.twitter.com/8o0jI9FRHD
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) April 6, 2022
For Irving, helping the next group of incoming players is important to him. He wants to see them succeed in the NBA and knows that will only help grow the game of basketball. He likes how the stars of the league are helping along those youngsters.
We’re just breathing the right energy into the next generation that is going to be following our footsteps. Those guys are ultra-talented. It seems as though, me in my 11th year, I’ve watched these guys since they were 14, 15-year-olds and I’ve grown with them. I’ve sent them messages of encouragement, messages of motivation trying to inspire them as they inspire me. I look forward to the challenge of going against them for quite a few more years. That is the fun part.
Green is certainly among those players that have the potential to become one of the faces of the NBA down the road. He is in the mix to win Rookie of the Year and should only improve with more time and experience playing with the Rockets.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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