Rockets' Green Receives 'Superstar' Label from Gilbert Arenas

Three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas gave Houston Rockets' Jalen Green the "superstar" label on his podcast.

The New York Knicks seem to have a new “Big Three” in Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, and OG Anunoby, who was recently traded from Toronto. Currently sitting seventh in the NBA Eastern Conference, the Knicks are hoping to get out of the Play-In Tournament and make a deep playoff run this season, and eventually make the ever-elusive title appearance.

At least one former NBA star seems to think that the Knicks are not approaching things correctly. Instead of having a well-rounded trio of Randle, Brunson, and Anunoby, Gilbert Arenas thinks that the Knicks would be better served to build around a singular star instead of a cast of solid players.

Houston, TX: Jalen Green (4) of the Houston Rockets tried to get past Jaden Ivey (23) of the Detroit Pistons.  / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

“[The Knicks] have a horrible research team on what talent is, because they should have had stars,” Arenas said on his Gil’s Arena Podcast. “They should be looking for a star, period. I don’t give a f*** who I need to give up, I want a star. I want a Jalen Green, [Anthony] Edwards, right? I want a superstar.”

Arenas, a three-time All-Star, seems to think that Jalen Green has crossed over into superstardom. After his second season with the Houston Rockets where he averaged 22.1 points, maybe one could make the case that he was a rising superstar in the league. This season, however, he has regressed in all forms and has been benched by coach Ime Udoka on multiple occasions.

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The take was blasted in the comment section, and rightfully so. At this point in his career, Jalen Green is proving to be a streaky, volume scorer who is valuable on offense but is not the guy you build a team around. That would be Alperen Sengun. Now, in an unrealistic world where the Knicks wanted to build around Green, an enticing trade package could be built, but it seems like the Knicks are set with their current roster and are ready to take on the East.