3 players who should've been NBA Rookie of the Year finalists

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MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 07: Jalen Green #0 of the Houston Rockets looks on against the Miami Heat during the second half at FTX Arena on March 07, 2022 in Miami, Florida, 3 players who should’ve been NBA Rookie of the Year finalists. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

3 players who should’ve been NBA Rookie of the Year finalists: Jalen Green

Jalen Green had his moments during his first season with the Houston Rockets. His inconsistency left something to be desired, but he flashed the potential to be a superstar.

Green was a stick of scoring dynamite as a rookie. The first-year guard averaged 17.2 points per game, ranking 42nd in the NBA. He dropped 30 points in four of his last five games of the year, including a 41-point performance in the season finale.

That same stretch, however, revealed some of Green’s inconsistency. Between those 30-point performances, Green put up just eight points in a loss to the Toronto Raptors. He didn’t hit a single three-pointer in the season’s penultimate game, despite playing 37 minutes.

Green wasn’t bad from the free-throw line but could improve from three- and two-point range. He made only 42.6 percent of his shots all season. He also turned the ball over twice a game and only nabbed 3.4 rebounds per contest.

Based on scoring acumen alone, however, Green already appears to be a building block of the Rockets. His scoring also could’ve made him a finalist for Rookie of the Year, along with his marked improvement over the course of the season.

Green’s rough start to the season likely precluded any shot he had to be Rookie of the Year as he adjusted to a major role and a jump from the G League. Chop off the first half of the year, however, and Green would be a legitimate finalist for the award.