Jalen Green facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jalen Green

Green with the Houston Rockets in 2022
No. 4 – Houston Rockets
Shooting guard
Personal information
Born	(2002-02-09) February 9, 2002 (age 23) Merced, California, U.S.
High school	San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, California) Prolific Prep (Napa, California)
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	186 lb (84 kg)
Career information
NBA Draft	2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Houston Rockets
Pro career	2020–present
League	NBA
Career history
2020–2021	NBA G League Ignite
2021–present	Houston Rockets
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Rookie First Team (2022) McDonald's All-American (2020) FIBA Under-17 World Cup MVP (2018)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States FIBA U19 World Cup Gold 2019 Greece Team FIBA U17 World Cup Gold 2018 Argentina Team FIBA Americas U16 Championship Gold 2017 Argentina Team

Jalen Romande Green (born February 9, 2002) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Houston Rockets in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Jalen was considered a top player coming out of high school. He was even ranked number one overall by ESPN.

Instead of going to college basketball, Jalen joined the NBA G League Ignite team. He has won three gold medals with the United States national team. He was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup. The Houston Rockets picked Jalen second overall in the 2021 NBA draft. He is one of only a few NBA players with Filipino heritage.

Early Life and High School Years

Jalen Green was born in Merced, California. He later moved to Fresno, California. By the time he was in sixth grade, he was already playing Amateur Athletic Union basketball. He practiced for many hours each day.

For his first three years of high school, Jalen played basketball at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno. As a freshman, he was a starter and played very well. He helped his team reach the CIF Division II quarterfinals.

In his sophomore year, Jalen continued to shine. He led his team to a Central Section Division II title. He was named the MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year. As a junior, he scored many points and helped his team win another championship. He even broke the school's scoring record!

For his senior year, Jalen moved to Prolific Prep in Napa, California. He helped his new team win the Grind Session World championship. He was named the Sports Illustrated All-American player of the year. Jalen was chosen for big games like the 2020 McDonald's All-American Boys Game, but they were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Becoming a Top Recruit

Jalen was a highly sought-after player by colleges. He was ranked as the top recruit in his class by ESPN. Many top college teams wanted him to play for them. However, on April 16, 2020, Jalen decided to join the NBA G League. This meant he would skip college basketball to play professionally.

Professional Basketball Career

NBA G League Ignite (2020–2021)

Jalen Green signed a contract with the NBA G League Ignite team in April 2020. He was the very first player to join this new team. On March 8, 2021, he scored a season-high 30 points in a game. He averaged 17.9 points per game during his time with the Ignite.

Houston Rockets (2021–Present)

Starting in the NBA (2021–22)

Green participating in the Slam Dunk Contest in 2022.

On July 29, 2021, the Houston Rockets picked Jalen Green second overall in the 2021 NBA draft. This made him the first player ever drafted directly from the G-League. He made his NBA debut on October 20, 2021. A few days later, he scored 30 points in a game, making eight three-pointers. This was a record for a Rockets rookie!

Unfortunately, Jalen had a hamstring injury that sidelined him for a while. He returned in December, scoring 20 points in his first game back. In February 2022, Jalen took part in the Slam Dunk Contest. He also had several games where he scored over 30 points. In his final game as a rookie, Jalen scored a career-high 41 points. He was named Rookie of the Month for March and April. He was also selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Second Season (2022–23)

Before the 2022–23 NBA season, Jalen changed his jersey number from 0 to 4. In his second game of the season, he scored 33 points. On November 7, 2022, he scored 34 points. This made him one of only six guards in NBA history to score 30 points ten or more times before turning 21.

On January 15, 2023, Jalen was suspended for one game. This was because he left the bench area during a fight between the Rockets and the Sacramento Kings. A few days later, he tied his career high with 41 points. On January 23, he set a new career high with 42 points in a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He became one of only six players aged 20 or younger to have at least three 40-point games.

Recent Seasons (2023–Present)

On January 24, 2024, Jalen and his teammate Alperen Şengün made history. They became the first duo in NBA history to both score over 30 points and get over 10 rebounds while being 21 or younger. On March 19, 2024, Jalen scored a career-high 42 points again, also grabbing 10 rebounds.

On October 21, 2024, Jalen and the Rockets agreed to a new contract. On November 27, 2024, he scored 41 points in an overtime win. On January 13, 2025, Jalen matched his career high with 42 points. He shot very well in that game, making 72.2% of his shots. He joined Hakeem Olajuwon as the only two Rockets players to score 40+ points with such high shooting accuracy.

Playing for His Country

Green playing for the United States men's national under-19 basketball team in Greece.

Jalen Green plays for the United States national team. He has also said he might want to play for the Philippines in the future. This is because he has Filipino heritage.

He first played for the United States at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship. His team won the gold medal. He was named MVP of the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup, where his team also won gold. Jalen won another gold medal with the United States at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup. He was the youngest player on that team!

Player Skills

Jalen Green is 6 feet 4 inches tall. He mostly plays as a shooting guard. He is known for being very athletic and having great ball-handling skills. He can score in many ways, whether he's moving with the ball or catching it to shoot. He is very quick, which helps him get past defenders and drive to the basket. People have compared his playing style to famous players like Zach LaVine and Kobe Bryant.

Career Statistics

Here are Jalen Green's statistics from his NBA career:

Personal Life

Jalen's mother, Bree Puruganan, has Filipino family roots. His stepfather, Marcus Green, also played basketball. Jalen has a younger sister. He became a father on May 12, 2024, when his daughter was born.