Houston Rockets rookie guard Jalen Green had an electric finish to the 2021-22 season, including 30+ points in six of his final seven games. But the No. 2 overall draft pick of the 2021 first round still has a ways to go in the eyes of ESPN’s NBA writers, at least as it pertains to joining the elite.
At the end of the 2021-22 regular season, an averaged ranking by ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Kevin Pelton, and Mike Schmitz places Green at No. 21 among the league’s top 25 overall players who are under 25 years old. The list is “based on future potential.”
Schmitz, who covers the NBA draft for ESPN, gave Green the highest grade of the three panelists at No. 14 overall. Here’s his rationale:
Green is among four members of the 2021 rookie class to make the cut. Green showed exactly why he was the No. 2 pick in the draft over his last 10 games, averaging 26.1 points on 54% from 2 and 41% from 3, highlighted by the type of pull-up 3s and ferocious dunks you typically see from NBA All-Stars.
Green’s defense and consistency as a playmaker need considerable work, but I ranked him 14th on my personal list, as I’m expecting an Anthony Edwards-like sophomore jump given his combination of shot-making, burst and bounce at 6-foot-6.
Who are the top 25-under-25 players?
With @kpelton and @Mike_Schmitz https://t.co/HG8y0zCqS5
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) April 12, 2022
Pelton and Marks ranked Green at No. 24 and 25, respectively.
The reality is that while Green’s late-season rookie surge was electric and historic, it represents just a portion of his NBA resume to date. While Rockets fans are understandably optimistic about how that will project to the 2022-23 season and beyond, the broader perception is that it was a handful of late-season games for one of the league’s worst teams.
Should it continue, expect Green to jump up these types of lists in 2022-23. But as of now, Rockets fans will have to settle for a spot near the end.
