A prodigious shooting guard for the Houston Rockets, Jalen Green, has been on fire in recent times. In March alone, he averaged an impressive 28 points per game, shooting at a remarkable 51 percent clip. As he helped propel the Rockets to eleven victories, the changes in lineup further elevated Green’s prospects, shooting 77% in the restricted zones. 

In an elaborate discussion on Jalen Green and his NBA trajectory, sports critic Bill Simmons was caught sharing his views on the 22-year-old. With sports host Ryen Russillo accompanying him on today’s episode of ‘The Bill Simmons Podcast’, Simmons explained, “I found myself watching more of the Rockets this year”, continuing, “And it just feels like Green has more space to do stuff.”

Marking his efficiency in the NBA, Jalen Green has already helped place the Rockets in a possible spot for the Play-In run. Pointing out the young player’s strategic growth, Simmons noted, “He started to attack the rim.” However, that’s not all to his narrative, as the seasoned podcaster recalled, “I’m gonna say this very carefully, and I know what’s at stake, and I know he’s not gonna be this person, but when I watch him, he reminds me, this version of attacking the rim and then the jump shooting, reminds me a little of young Kobe.”

Elaborating further on his perspective, Simmons added, “Not like, three rings in a row Kobe, but late 90s Kobe where it’s like ‘man, there’s a lot here, what’s going on here’.” While the Rockets surpassed their previous two-month win total in March, Jalen Green and his team are now only one and a half games away from the Warriors in the Play-In seed listings. 

Jalen Green attains revolutionary surge in his NBA trajectory 

As Simmons hinted at Green’s versatility in NBA face-offs, he mentioned, “Watching him the last couple of weeks, it’s like if you’re just drawing a two-card from scratch, from a scoring standpoint, what kinda move or shot doesn’t he have?”

Amidst the changes for increased spacing, Jalen Green has flourished as the team’s primary option. Due to Alperen Sengun’s injury, he had more freedom to move around, which enabled him to make the most of his speed and agility. However, Green’s journey to prominence hasn’t been devoid of challenges. Earlier in the season, he grappled with offensive consistency, hindered by the lack of spacing in the lineup. 

Additionally, Jalen Green also faced difficulties penetrating defenses and settling for tough mid-range shots. But now, with Sengun sidelined, the Rockets have embraced an alternative approach, utilizing Jabari Smith Jr. as a stretch five to unlock Green’s full potential. As Green assumed the mantle of the Rockets’ offensive approach, he remained grounded, acknowledging the need for consistency and improvement. After his recent fiery streak, the inexperienced player is now focused on elevating his game and contributing to all facets. “I’ve had runs where I get hot and then cool down. The main goal is just to keep building on the hot streaks and be as consistent as possible”, he claimed. 

With his relentless drive, Jalen Green has catapulted the Rockets, building up for a potential Play-In run. While Bill Simmons’ projections backed his recognition in the NBA, fans have buckled to witness the rise of a star in the making. 

Read More: “Last thing we worried about”: Jalen Green reacts to blow out win vs Jazz that reignited NBA play-Offs dream