Point guard is a position long associated with NBA leadership, and the young Houston Rockets added a recent champion by signing longtime Toronto Raptors star Fred VanVleet this offseason.
Count prized prospect Jalen Green, the No. 2 overall draft pick from the 2021 first round, as among those enthusiastic about the move.
While supporting his summer-league teammates in Thursday’s fourth straight win at Las Vegas, Green did a television interview with a reporter. When asked about VanVleet, who Green has already participated in offseason workouts with, the enthusiasm was clear.
Among Green’s comments:
That’s super dope for the team, not just for me but for the whole team… to have a veteran point guard, a winning point guard, that we can learn from and set the tone for us.
Green averaged a team-high 22.1 points per game last season. However, his shooting efficiency (41.6% FG, 33.8% on 3-pointers) was bit underwhelming as the centerpiece of Houston’s rebuild, in which Green was forced to become a top option at a younger-than-usual age.
Now, with veterans like VanVleet and Dillon Brooks added in 2023 free agency, Green should have more support entering his third professional season. It’s a welcome development, to say the least.
More from @Katie_George05 w/ #Rockets @JalenGreen – Green on playing with @FredVanVleet, “That’s super dope for the team, not just for me, but the whole team to have a veteran point guard, a winning point guard we can learn from & just set the tone for us.” @SportsTalk790 pic.twitter.com/W0ShgDH4TI
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) July 14, 2023
