Top 2021 NBA draft prospect Jalen Green said recently that he sees a potentially scary backcourt in Houston alongside Kevin Porter Jr., and it appears he’s far from alone in that assessment.
Per Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Green appears to be a very real consideration for the Rockets with the No. 2 overall pick. Iko writes:
Multiple people around the league love the idea of Green fitting in Houston, mainly because of the potential for stardom down the line and the backcourt fit with Kevin Porter Jr.
Iko’s piece includes strong endorsements of Green’s work ethic by many who know him well, including his coaches and former Rockets guard Bobby Brown — who played next to Green with the G League Ignite.
“He wanted all the smoke.”
A hunger to be the best. A burning competitive fire. A willingness to learn. And French fries.
This is the making of Jalen Green, next NBA phenom and maybe, just maybe, Houston’s lottery ticket.
Feature for @TheAthletic: https://t.co/mrUNH2U7dC
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) July 5, 2021
Just 19 and 21 years old, respectively, Green and Porter Jr. could potentially become Houston’s guard duo for the next generation. (Porter Jr., of course, was a first-round pick in the 2019 NBA draft.)
Though optimism is high, it’s not a given that Green will be available for the Rockets to select in the first round. Some media reports have indicated he could be a consideration for Detroit at No. 1 overall — which would put consensus front-runner Cade Cunningham in play at No. 2.
With over three weeks remaining until the July 29 draft, both the Pistons and Rockets plan to interview and work out several top candidates, and it’s possible momentum could move in any number of directions. But as of now, it’s clear that Green is a strong option for both teams.
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Report: Multiple people around the league ‘love the idea’ of pairing Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. https://t.co/MBtuLgIAxk
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) July 5, 2021
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