The Houston Rockets have to decide on the long-term future of their young stars, including Jalen Green, who will be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2025. The team decided to trigger his $12.5 million option this summer to keep him on the roster, but his future in Texas is far from set.
The 22-year-old guard made it clear he wants to sign a new long-term extension with the Houston Rockets soon during last weekend’s Jalen Green Youth Basketball Camp in Houston.
“For sure. My main focus is the season ahead of me with the players that we have, go to the playoffs, and go as far as we can. We’re building that team camaraderie, who we are. That’s the main focus right now, and everything will work itself out,” Green said via Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
Jalen Green played 82 regular season games in 2023-24, averaging 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per contest. After winning only 42 games in his first two seasons in the NBA, Green and the Houston Rockets went 41-41 last season, their first campaign with a winning percentage of at least 50 percent since 2019-20.
Houston Rockets looking to build off last season’s success
The Houston Rockets almost made it to the playoffs for the first time in four years, as they went 16-7 from March up until the end of the regular season, including an 11-game winning streak that raised eyebrows.
This summer, they brought in Reed Sheppard with the No. 3 overall pick from this summer’s NBA Draft, and the former Kentucky Wildcat is poised to be the team’s next star.
While Jalen Green expressed his desire to stay long-term with the Houston Rockets, the front office is reportedly unwilling to give him and Alperen Sengun new deals. However, that could change depending on how they progress next season.
