Jalen Green facts for kids

Jalen Romande Green (born February 9, 2002) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the NBA, he was considered a top young talent. He chose to play for the NBA G League Ignite team instead of going to college. Green has won three gold medals with the United States national junior teams. He was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup. The Houston Rockets picked Green second overall in the 2021 NBA draft. He is one of the few NBA players with Filipino heritage.

Quick facts for kids
Jalen Green

Green with the Houston Rockets in 2022
Phoenix Suns
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
2021–2025	Houston Rockets
2025–present	Phoenix Suns
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

Early Life and Basketball Beginnings

Jalen Green was born in Merced, California. He lived in Livingston, California for a while. When he was in third grade, his family moved to Fresno, California. By the time he was in sixth grade, Jalen was already playing Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball. He practiced for five hours every day to improve his skills.

High School Basketball Career

For his first three years of high school, Jalen played basketball at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno.

Freshman Year Success

As a freshman, he was a starter on the team. He scored about 18.1 points and grabbed nine rebounds per game. He helped his team reach the finals of the CIF Central Section Division II. He was named a MaxPreps Freshman All-American.

Sophomore and Junior Year Highlights

In his second year, Green averaged 27.9 points and 7.7 rebounds. He led his team to win the Central Section Division II title. He was named MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year. As a junior, he averaged 30.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. He won his second straight Central Division II championship. During this game, he broke the school's all-time scoring record. He was named USA Today All-USA California player of the year.

Senior Year and National Recognition

For his senior year, Jalen transferred to Prolific Prep in Napa, California. He helped his team win the Grind Session World championship. He averaged 31.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and five assists per game. His team finished with an impressive 31–3 record. He was named Sports Illustrated All-American player of the year. He was also chosen for the McDonald's All-American Game and other big games. However, these games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Choosing the NBA G League

Jalen Green was a highly sought-after player by colleges. Many top basketball programs wanted him. However, on April 16, 2020, Green announced a big decision. He chose to join the NBA G League Ignite team instead of playing college basketball. This was a new path for young players.

Professional Basketball Journey

NBA G League Ignite (2020–2021)

Jalen Green signed a contract with the NBA G League Ignite team. He was the very first player to join this new developmental team. On March 8, 2021, he scored a season-high 30 points in a playoff game. He averaged 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game for the season.

Houston Rockets (2021–2025)

Starting in the NBA (2021–22)

On July 29, 2021, the Houston Rockets picked Jalen Green second overall in the 2021 NBA draft. He was 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 with eight three-pointers. This was a record for a Rockets rookie. He later had a hamstring injury that kept him out for a month.

Green in the 2022 Slam Dunk Contest.

Green participated in the Slam Dunk Contest on February 19, 2022. He finished in third place. He had several games where he scored 30 points or more. He even scored 41 points in his final game as a rookie. This was the first time a Rockets rookie scored 40 points since Hakeem Olajuwon. At the end of his first season, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He averaged 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.

Career-High Scoring (2022–23)

Before the 2022–23 NBA season, Green changed his jersey number 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 18, 2023, Green tied his career high with 41 points. A few days later, he set a new career high with 42 points. He became one of only six players aged 20 or younger to have at least three 40-point games.

Continued Growth (2023–24)

On January 24, 2024, Green and his teammate Alperen Şengün made history. They became the first duo in NBA history to each score 30-plus points and 10-plus rebounds at 21 years old or younger. On March 19, 2024, Green scored a career-high 42 points. He also had 10 rebounds and three assists in a win against the Washington Wizards.

Playoff Debut (2024–25)

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

In Game 2 of the Rockets' first playoff series against the Golden State Warriors, Green scored 38 points. He also tied a Rockets playoff record by making eight three-point shots.

Phoenix Suns (2025–present)

On July 6, 2025, Jalen Green was traded to the Phoenix Suns. This trade was part of a big seven-team deal.

Playing for the National Team

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

Jalen Green plays for the United States national basketball team. He has also shown interest in playing for the Philippines in the future. This is because he has some Filipino family background.

Gold Medals with Team USA

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. In that tournament, he averaged 15.7 points per game and won another gold medal. Green won a third 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 and Style

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 without the ball or dribbling. He is also very fast, which helps him get past defenders and drive to the basket. People have compared his playing style to famous NBA players like Zach LaVine and Kobe Bryant.

Career Statistics

NBA Regular Season

NBA Playoffs

Personal Life

Jalen Green's mother, Bree Puruganan, has Filipino heritage. His stepfather, Marcus Green, also played basketball. Jalen has a younger sister.

See also

In Spanish: Jalen Green para niños