Rockets Season Preview: What Will Be Jeff Green's Greatest Contribution?

Jeff Green may not be a rotational player, but the veteran forward will have one of the most important jobs amid his return to the Houston Rockets.

HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets reunited with one of their former players this off-season. But despite rumors since ESPN's report on Dec. 25, the Rockets did not welcome back James Harden. 

Instead, the Rockets signed veteran forward Jeff Green to a one-year deal worth $6 million in July.

The signing of Green will mark his second stint with the Rockets. He joined the team during the 2019-20 season and helped Houston advance to the West Conference Semifinals as part of the Orlando Bubble experience.

At the time, the acquisition of Green was an attempt to help the Rockets win their first Larry O'Brien Trophy since 1995. Three years later, Green will return as a veteran who can assist with helping the Rockets re-establish themselves as a respectable team as they enter phase II of their rebuilding project.   

Green may not have a consistent role within coach Ime Udoka's rotation. But the 37-year-old forward will contribute to helping the Rockets reset a culture only general manager Rafael Stone has defended since the end of last season. 

"I am willing to fight with anyone who will say that our culture, on this team, this year, was challenged," general manager Rafeal Stone said. "It’s been if not the best team I’ve ever been around, certainly one of the top two or three, and I’ve been in the NBA since 2005." 

Green is coming off his 15th career year after averaging 17.2 minutes during the Denver Nuggets' championship run this past season. In 1,107 career games with 650 starts, Green has averaged 12.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 28.5 minutes per game.