Inside The Rockets

Jalen Green Must Put Up or Shut Up for Rockets

The Houston Rockets are reaching a critical point with Jalen Green.

Jeremy Brener

Oct 9, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) drives to the basket around Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Oct 9, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) drives to the basket around Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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Houston Rockets shooting guard Jalen Green is entering the most important season of his career, and the fourth-year pro is well-aware of that.

The former No. 2 overall pick is entering the final year of his rookie contract, which means restricted free agency is on the horizon next offseason.

Green, 22, has shown the flashes necessary to be a franchise player for the Rockets, but has lacked the consistency. That's why the Rockets have yet to give him the lucrative extension that others in the 2021 NBA Draft class have already received, like Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, Toronto Raptors All-Star Scottie Barnes and Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner.

In order for Green to be worthy of a max deal, the Rockets need him to be they type of guy that can take over basketball games. While he may not be asked to do so every night, Green is the type of player that needs to be capable to do so often in order for him to be worth the type of deal he is seeking.

Green has yet to prove to the Rockets that he is that kind of player with the amount of downs he has had over the years. However, the ups provide hope that he can put it all together this season and emerge as the franchise guy for the Rockets that they thought he could be when they selected him.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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