Jalen Green will emerge as a star for the Houston Rockets next season

Following a strong rookie season, Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green appears ready to take off next season. That would be a welcome development for a team that won just 20 games last year and 17 games the year before that. The rapidly improving former second overall pick appears to fit the bill as the team’s next star and is poised to make a significant leap forward next season.

Better yet, he’ll get plenty of opportunities to show what he can do since the Houston Rockets aren’t in a position to compete immediately. That said, what will it take for Green to emerge as the Houston Rockets’ next star? Let’s find out.

Jalen Green will emerge as a star for the Houston Rockets next season

The 6’4 guard impressed last season, particularly on the offensive end, where his talent and explosiveness were on full display.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lUaEvOfdMA&ab_channel=ESPN

Green averaged 17.3 points per game on respectable shooting splits, but there’s definitely room to improve. Green showed promise in creating for himself off the dribble, particularly in navigating screens and knifing his way into the paint.

He’s terrific at snaking ball screens in which he goes around the screen and then dribbles laterally to create more separation between him and his defender as well as the opposing big. That’s a rare skill that, combined with his athleticism and craft, should soon make him a great finisher and boost his offensive efficiency.

The Rockets could use more of that from Green next season, and he’ll certainly play more with the ball now that he’s had a chance to get acclimated to the NBA.

How the Houston Rockets should utilize Jalen Green

Last season, Green had a modest 23.7% usage rate, which should be closer to 30% next season, ensuring the ball is in the hands of their best player as much as possible.

Green can be effective off-ball too, and he shot 34.3% on 6.8 3-point attempts per game. 34.3% is technically slightly below average, but he took a number of threes off the dribble, many of which were from above the break. That’s a low-percentage shot, but he’s displayed the ability to hit them, and he’d be well on his way to becoming a superstar if he could drill them with better accuracy.

On the other hand, being a better catch-and-shoot player would help him become more efficient and open up driving lanes for himself and others. He attempted only 15 % of his threes from the corners but shot much better from below the break, which is common. When he doesn’t have the ball, having him ready to catch and shoot could help get him going and give him increased confidence when playing on-ball.

He can also attack closeouts by using a killer crossover and combining his potential as a shooter with his ability to get into the paint. That would create more high percentage looks for him and give him the opportunity to improve as a playmaker by kicking out to shooters or tossing a shovel pass to the big for easy baskets.

Defensively, there’s work to be done, for sure, but I’m confident that he’ll improve on that end as he gains more experience. However, defense isn’t his bread and butter, and continuing to develop offensively is what could make him a star.

Ultimately, there’s plenty to be excited about with Green, and he could make a big leap next season. Assuming he’s able to build on his exciting play from last season, he’ll soon become the Rockets’ next star.