Inside The Rockets

Jalen Green Praises New Houston Rockets for 'Changing Culture'

With the Houston Rockets adding Ime Udoka and Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green has a positive outlook on the upcoming season.

Jonah Kubicek

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After two full seasons with the Houston Rockets, Jalen Green has earned a reputation as an inefficient, high-volume scorer. While his playstyle can earn individual accolades, it hardly contributes to winning.

Green recognizes that for his game to take the next step, the Rockets need to win. In a recent interview with The Athletic's Shams Charania, Green said he believes he can make an All-Star leap — but only if Houston is winning.

A big part of winning is the team finding a new identity. The Rockets hired Ime Udoka to bring a winning mentality and pedigree. They also signed NBA Champions Jeff Green, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks.

“Fire, that’s my guy.” Green said about Udoka. “I think he’s going to change the culture for us. He’s already brought a good energy, brought a good staff to help us out.”

Jalen Green
Jalen Green dunks against the New Orleans Pelicans during the Houston Rockets' preseason win on Oct. 12 / Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

While Green and VanVleet bring winning experience, Brooks will help Udoka implement a culture shift. The Rockets allowed the third most points last season. But with Brooks, Houston will not achieve the feat for a second straight year.

“I was excited to see all the vets come in. I was happy about it,” said Green. “He’s [Brooks] a dog. Energy like that is contagious. Everyone on the team is a dog, the way we practice, the way we play defense…we’ve been locked in on defense and that’s been the main focus for us.”

There’s no denying that the Rockets have immense talent. Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Alperen Sengun have the tools. And for the first time in their short careers, they have the leadership to thrive. 

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Jonah Kubicek
JONAH KUBICEK

Jonah Kubicek has been writing about the NBA since 2021, covering the Pistons, Jazz, Spurs, Magic, Rockets, and Knicks. As a lifelong Spurs fan living in Michigan, he never misses an opportunity to bring up the 2005 NBA Finals (you should have guarded Horry!). He is a long-suffering Tigers fan and closely follows the NFL, although he never found an affinity for the Lions. Jonah graduated from Oakland University with a degree in History and spends his spare time playing tennis or reading. Follow Jonah on Twitter for updates on Tre Jones and other NBA news.

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