The Houston Rockets haven’t seen the full potential they expected from Jalen Green.
Last season was especially frustrating for some. There was hope that Green would thrive under head coach Ime Udoka, but instead, he struggled with efficiency. While Green was unstoppable in March, he often got in his own way throughout the season. Despite that, Green quietly made progress in 2023-24, showing improvement as a defender and playmaker. These could be signs of a gradual transformation into a more well-rounded player.
That’s promising, but the Rockets drafted Green to score. If he can’t consistently put up high-volume points with decent efficiency, he won’t meet the expectations set for him.
One writer believes Green will reach his potential in 2024-25.
Green predicted to be Rockets’ leading scorer
This prediction is likely to stir debate. Some Rockets fans believe Alperen Sengun is the obvious choice to lead the team in scoring next season. However, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes offers solid reasoning for picking Green.
Green in scoring should lead the Rockets
There are plenty of questions about the fit between Green and Sengun, which Hughes touches on in his article. We’ve explored this topic extensively as well.
But that’s not the focus here. Simply put, if Green and Sengun complement each other, it should result in more scoring for Green. If this duo clicks, Green, the former lottery pick, should see an increase in his points per game.
On the other hand, we’d like to see Sengun’s assists per game improve. When he’s trying to score in the low post or in pick-and-roll situations, he occupies the paint, drawing his defender into the same area. This can create challenges for a downhill guard like Green (or Amen Thompson, for that matter).
What if Sengun operated more from the high post or the elbows? That would open up the paint for Green and position Sengun to better set him up.
In other words, this isn’t about downplaying Sengun—it’s about maximizing Green. We’re excited to see if he can pull it all together in 2024-25. If he does, he should lead the Rockets in scoring.