Jalen Green is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets. Widely regarded as a top prospect, he was the number one ranked player in the 2020 high school class. Opting to skip college, he played for the NBA G League Ignite before being drafted second overall by the Houston Rockets in 2021. Green has achieved significant success representing the United States in international basketball, winning three junior gold medals and earning MVP honors at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup. He is the third NBA player of Filipino descent.
1971: Roscoe Pondexter Sets School Scoring Record
Roscoe Pondexter set a school career scoring record at San Joaquin Memorial High School in 1971. This record was later surpassed by Jalen Green.
1997: Allen Iverson's Rookie Scoring Streak
In 1997, Allen Iverson set an NBA record by being the only rookie to score 30 or more points in five consecutive games. Jalen Green later matched this achievement in 2022.
February 9, 2002: Jalen Green is Born
On February 9, 2002, Jalen Romande Green was born.
2017: National Team Debut and Gold Medal at FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship
Jalen Green made his debut for the United States national team at the FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Formosa, Argentina in 2017. He contributed an average of 9.8 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal per game, helping his team secure the gold medal.
2018: MVP and Gold Medal at FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup
In 2018, Jalen Green was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup in Argentina. He led his team to win the gold medal with an average of 15.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
2018: MVP of the FIBA Under-17 World Cup
Jalen Green was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup.
2019: Gold Medal at FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup
Jalen Green, as the youngest player on his team, won a gold medal at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Heraklion, Greece. He averaged 10.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game.
March 2020: Grind Session World Championship and MVP Honors
In March 2020, Jalen Green helped his team win the Grind Session World championship. He also shared the title of Grind Session most valuable player with Daishen Nix.
April 16, 2020: Jalen Green Announces Decision to Join NBA G League
On April 16, 2020, Jalen Green publicly announced his decision to forgo college basketball and join the NBA G League. He chose the G League over multiple offers from prominent NCAA Division I programs, including Auburn, Oregon, and Memphis.
2020: High School Graduation and Decision to Forego College
Jalen Green graduated from Prolific Prep in Napa, California in 2020. He was a consensus five-star recruit and ranked as the top player in his class. Instead of going to college, Green opted to join the NBA G League Ignite team.
March 8, 2021: Season-High Performance in G League Playoffs
On March 8, 2021, Jalen Green achieved a season-high performance during the G League playoffs. Despite a loss to the Raptors 905, he recorded 30 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.
July 29, 2021: Jalen Green Selected Second Overall in NBA Draft
On July 29, 2021, Jalen Green was selected by the Houston Rockets as the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, marking the first instance of a player being drafted from the G League.
December 17, 2021: Danuel House Waived by the Rockets
Danuel House, who had worn the number 4 jersey for the Houston Rockets, was waived by the team on December 17, 2021. This opened the door for Jalen Green to switch to his preferred jersey number the following season.
February 19, 2022: Slam Dunk Contest Participation
Jalen Green participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest on February 19, 2022, where he secured a third-place finish.
November 7, 2022: Jalen Green Joins Elite Guards with 30-Point Games
On November 7, 2022, Jalen Green scored 34 points in a game against the Orlando Magic. This achievement made him the sixth guard in NBA history to record at least 30 points in ten or more games before turning 21, placing him among elite guards like Luka Dončić, Devin Booker, Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, and Kyrie Irving.
January 15, 2023: Jalen Green Suspended for Leaving Bench Area
The NBA suspended Jalen Green and his teammate, Jae'Sean Tate, for one game without pay on January 15, 2023. The suspension was a result of them leaving the bench area during an altercation between the Houston Rockets and the Sacramento Kings two days prior.
March 19, 2024: Career-High 42 Points against the Wizards
On March 19, 2024, Jalen Green set a new career-high by scoring 42 points, along with 10 rebounds and three assists, in a victory against the Washington Wizards.