The Houston Rockets and guard Jalen Green have agreed to a three-year, $106 million contract extension. This deal includes a player option in the third year, which gives Green the chance to increase his earnings down the road.
Jalen Green and the Rockets have agreed to a three-year, $106M rookie extension, per @ShamsCharania and @BobbyMarks42 pic.twitter.com/k4gTlo3m90
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 21, 2024
Green, 22, was really the first NBA prospect to come out of the G League Ignite team. He joined the team in 2020 and then went second overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, being drafted by the Rockets.
This three-year deal provides a lot of flexibility for Green in the short term. He has the chance to earn over $240 million over the next five years, more than the $224 million current maximum. Green can sign an extension in October 2026 and opt out of his current contract at the age of 25.
Since being drafted in 2021, Green has been an elite scorer, averaging a career total of 19.8 PPG. Green has struggled with efficiency when shooting the basketball, though, averaging 42.1% from the field and 33.7% from three-point territory. Despite that, Green closed last season strong, averaging 22.8 PPG after the All-Star break. Green also led the Rockets on an 11-game winning streak in March, which almost got them a play-in spot; during this stretch, the guard averaged 30.2 PPG on 50.2% from the field and 45% from three-point range.
How quickly you forgot The infamous Jalen Green “unguardable tour” of March 2024.
— Pranav Sriraman (@PranavSriraman) October 21, 2024
27.7 PPG | 6.3 RPG | 3.9 APG | 1.2 STL
49.2% FG | 40.8% 3FG | 76.7% FT
61.3% TS
Led the Houston #Rockets to a 13-2 record. Stay on that side geek!! 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/eYH7ey5Vsy https://t.co/tY9uuaDxcQ
Green and the Rockets finished strong last season despite missing the play-in tournament. With Udoka now at the helm for a second season and Green locked up for the next three years, the Rockets are definitely a team to look out for in the West. A young, dangerous team that was close to the postseason last year expected a big season from both Green and the Rockets as a whole.