Earlier this year, longtime NBA media member Bill Simmons found himself suddenly in the spotlight for harsh and profane comments directed at then-rookie Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets.
Is a sequel of sorts on the horizon? In a podcast discussion on Tuesday’s “Locked on NBA” show, Miami Heat host David Ramil, whose team played against Green and the Rockets in Monday’s exhibition, cast doubt on whether Green is a winning player.
The exchange, moderated by Matt Moore of The Action Network (@HPBasketball on Twitter), went as follows:
Moore: Do you think Jalen Green can evolve into being an impactful, winning type of player?
Ramil: I personally don’t. … He’s trending more toward that kind of explosive shooter that winds up coming off the bench. That’s not bad; you can have a long career.
Further elaboration is available in the complete podcast. Green scored 25 points in 28 minutes versus Miami in Monday’s game.
The remarks were immediately met with criticism from Rockets fans on Twitter and an apparent rebuttal by Green himself. Though Green did not specifically identify the media member or criticism in question, the timing made it clear what was being referenced.
The “trending” reference was especially odd, since Green finished his rookie season of 2021-22 on a historic (and efficient) scoring run, which led to him earning a spot on the All-Rookie first team.
Scroll on for a look at the comments in question, along with apparent reaction from Green and others on social media.
it be the mfs that never played basketball in they life to sit there and talk bout someone’s game😭😭
— Jalen Green🤍 (@JalenGreen) October 11, 2022
Jalen Green is destined to be a bench player because he’s scoring on a rebuilding team?
It feels like he’s screwed no matter what lol. Either he looks bad on a rebuilding team and is a bust or he plays well but the stats are “empty.” I guess until his team wins he’s a bad player pic.twitter.com/LtpQSftilU
— Asad (@Asadking2001) October 11, 2022
What is Jalen Green supposed to do? Score less? They want him to be an elite floor raising player as a 20 year old? Very weird analysis on him. https://t.co/infHZMpCA5
— Apollo (@RedNationBlogga) October 11, 2022
Were we watching completely different players the second half of last season? Cause I saw a guy who has the skills to be an efficient top scorer on a good NBA team. 23 ppg on 59% TS after the all star break is not just some bench scorer. https://t.co/lhSgRhtGUM
— Spencer Poole (@spencp99) October 11, 2022
I want it very clearly pointed out that my take was "I don't know" https://t.co/hSN8kxDMtx
I am very notably not out on Jalen Green. I did a full week of film review on him, and there's still a lot I don't know. https://t.co/hGNLqHhY6X
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) October 11, 2022
Rookie posts 22 points a game on 59% TS% in the second half and he's a bust because his team is bad.
Wild stuff. https://t.co/GtKocYYGpy
— Ewan Ross (@Mentoch) October 11, 2022
This narrative happens to young Wings far to often. Devin Booker, Zack Lavine empty numbers not winners until the teams they are on get the right pieces now they’re both major parts of playoffs teams https://t.co/YtykCYG2vz
— Harry Podder 🎙 (@ShawsLawPodcast) October 11, 2022
