In a recently released podcast episode with Bill Simmons, rising star Jalen Green spelled out his goals for the 2022 offseason and with the Houston Rockets in the upcoming 2022-23 NBA season.
“Keeping my handle tight, getting better at catch-and-shoot 3s, making reads off the pick and roll,” said Green, who noted that he also wants to improve at handling double teams. “Next-level type things, like the corner pass when the low man helps all the way over.”
“I’m working on a whole bunch right now,” Green said. “The main goal right now is just trying to get stronger, locking in on my body, and making sure I’m in tip-top shape so I can go into next year.”
Green went on to list three personal goals for the 2022-23 season:
- Win more than 20 games (the Rockets went 20-62 last season)
- Make the 2023 All-Star Game
- Average 20-25 points per game
“Win more than 20 games, try to be an All-Star, average 20 to 25 (points), around there,” Green said. “I feel like, the way I ended the year, if I bring that and carry it on to the start, and all the way through.”
Green averaged 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists for the Rockets in the 2021-22 season, and the 6-foot-6 guard grew progressively better as the year moved along. To finish his rookie campaign in March and April, when Green won Western Conference Rookie of the Month, the 20-year-old averaged 22.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 48.4% overall and 39.5% on 3-pointers.
Green scored 20-plus points in 15 of those 22 games, including a historic streak of five straight 30-plus point games from March 28 through April 5. That was the second-longest streak by a rookie since 1971-72. He scored a career-high 41 points in the season finale versus Atlanta.
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