Rockets Coach Ime Udoka Gives Reasoning for Jalen Green's Diminished Minutes

The Houston Rockets' loss to the Pacers marked the second consecutive game Jalen Green was benched the entire fourth quarter.

HOUSTON — Houston Rockets' Jalen Green came into the 2023-24 season with lofty expectations for year three. But after 28 games, Green's third year has been in dismay. 

During Tuesday's 122-117 loss to the Indiana Pacers, Fred VanVleet replaced Green with 3:30 left in the third quarter and spent the rest of the night watching from the sideline. It marked the second consecutive time coach Ime Udoka benched Green for the entire fourth quarter. He finished the game with a season-low five points on 2 of 7 shooting.

Udoka said he doesn't have plans to make Green a permanent reserve but did share insight as to why the third-year guard has seen a decline in his minutes.

Rockets guard Jalen Green handles the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the second quarter at Toyota Center / Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

"I don't know if he's getting the best looks," Udoka said. "The second guessing, for sure you can see that. You want to be aggressive initially, but you have to be able to do both. I think at times he's struggling to read what [defenses] are doing, and he's passing up some looks and forcing some others."

After scoring 25 points during the Rockets' In-Season Tournament victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Nov. 10, there's been a decline in Green's production. He has scored less than 10 points in six of the Rockets' previous 20 games, averaging 15.3 points on .370/.287/.861 shooting splits.

Over the last two games, he is currently averaging 7.0 points on 26.7 percent shooting from the field while missing all seven of his shot attempts.

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Udoka's decision to sit Green during the fourth quarter against the Pacers marked the sixth time he has benched the former No. 2 overall pick. His first benching came during the Rockets' 121-116 defeat to the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 20.

Before his struggles, Green was having a solid start to the season, averaging 20.3 points on .449/.415./.750 shooting splits. His best game of the season took place during the Rockets' 34-point victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 28 points inside the Toyota Center.

"He's got to continue to improve in that area, read the game and take what it gives you," Udoka said. "Sometimes if you have an open shot the first look you get a lot of times is the best one. It’s something to grow into and get better at, but teams are putting their better defenders on him and paying attention to him."