Rockets' Jalen Green Living Up to 'Star Potential' Amid Late-Season Surge

Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said he saw "star potential" in Houston Rockets' Jalen Green despite his early season struggles. Two months after his statement, Green is staying true to Billups' assessment.

Utah Jazz v Houston Rockets / Tim Warner/GettyImages

HOUSTON -- Houston Rockets' Jalen Green nailed a step-back 3-point field goal over the top of Phoenix Suns' Royce O'Neale on March 2. The shot resulted in the Suns calling a timeout, and on his way to the huddle, Green screamed “I’m back!"

He finished the game with his second consecutive 34-point performance as the Rockets took a 118-109 road win over the Suns. Green's performance came two weeks after he scored a season-low four points in Houston's disappointing defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies on Feb. 14.

"I just wanted to win," Green said following his 27-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers Monday night. "We can’t lose to that team. We’re on a roll right now."

After leaving the Footprint Center, Green has since led the Rockets to their most successful stretch of the 2023-24 season. The Rockets have recorded a league-best 11-1 record in March, while Green has averaged 27.8 points on .496/.409/.800 shooting splits.

Utah Jazz v Houston Rockets / Tim Warner/GettyImages

He has since eclipsed his then-season high on four separate occasions, which includes a pair of 40-plus performances scored against the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz, respectively.

Green's late-season surge is a testament as to why Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups still saw "star potential" in the third-year guard amid his first visit to the Toyota Center in January. Billups' belief came in the middle of Green's lowest career moments, highlighted by inefficient shooting and late-game benching.

"I still feel the same about him," Billups said. "He has a chance to be a star in this league. As of late, his ceiling is starting to increase from an offensive standpoint.

"He has been playing hard and competing on the defensive end, which is where this team has taken the next step. They are the hottest team in the league. I think aggressively as he is offensively, they [the Rockets] needed a player like that. He is always going to attack. He is always going to be an option on the play. He is playing incredible ball right now."

"He has a chance to be a star in this league...He's playing hard and competing on the defensive end."

Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups speaks on #Rockets Jalen Green, who is averaging 29.3 points during Houston's eight game winning streak. pic.twitter.com/JjW4hXCkS7

— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) March 25, 2024

Billups refused to change his premature analysis of Green due to the struggles he faced early in his career. Before establishing himself as a five-time All-Star and Finals MVP in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons, Billups was far from the player the Boston Celtics drafted to help change their franchise as the No. 3 overall pick of the 1997 NBA Draft.

Billups' appalling start led to him playing for three teams (Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets) during his first two years. It wasn't until his third season as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves that Billups' early career struggles began to pay off.

The game started to slow down, as Billups began to understand his opponents on a nightly basis. But playing under the late Flip Saunders marked the most significant change for Billups. He was the first coach who instilled confidence and trust into the former Colorado prospect while challenging him to become a complete player.

Billups' growth under Saunders coincides with the development of Green within his first season of learning under coach Ime Udoka.

Since taking over as coach, Udoka has challenged Green to impact the game beyond his scoring. Green has stayed true to Udoka's teachings, showing prominent flashes of someone who can develop into an all-around player.

Since March 1, Green has averaged 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals while possessing a defensive net rating of 108.5.

"The biggest thing that helped me was struggling," Billups said. "I had to go back to the drawing board and figure things out. I was always working. I was always committing myself to this. Then, there were certain veterans along the way who pulled me up and taught me the game.

"I needed that at the time. In return, I started to do that for all of the young players who came after me — that's why I started coaching. These young players have a lot of potential, talent and skill, but they need time to learn."

Billups' two-year stint with the Timberwolves laid the groundwork for a Hall of Fame-worthy career highlighted by winning and individual accolades. Green's late-season surge has him on a similar trajectory as Billups — a player whose early struggles became the foundation of an all-time career associated with winning and prominent recognitions.

"I just think that Jalen is uber-talented," Billups said. "When you get to this league, for the first time, you’re playing against players that are better than you. You’ve been the best on your team since you’ve been playing, but then you get here, and you’ve got to find a way to try to do that again."

"He went through a change with the coach, and now he’s learning that system and learning how to play with some of those veterans. I think he’s going to be just fine. He’s definitely got a chance to be a star."