Rockets' Ime Udoka Challenging Jalen Green To Develop Into An All-Around Player
HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets have spent the off-season revamping their entire roster.
They added a pair of prospects who entered the 2023 NBA Draft at the top of their respective positions. And after entering free agency with over $60 million in cap space, the Rockets added a handful of veterans to help the franchise move into phase II of their rebuilding project.
Coach Ime Udoka joined ESPN's broadcast for an interview with Mark Jones and J.J. Reddick during the Rockets Summer League championship game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Udoka expressed excitement for his newcomers but emphasized the growth of Houston's existing players, headlined by Jalen Green.
"The one thing we have stressed to him is being an all-around player," Udoka said. "He is a natural scorer. But he has to do it on each side of the ball. He is a guy who can get anywhere on the court. And now, it's about building winning habits."
The 2023-24 campaign will mark Green's third season in the league, and Udoka's mindset coincides with his young guard. Whether becoming more of a facilitator or a better defender, Green has spoken about the improvements he wants to make on both ends of the court.
Receiving his first All-Star nod has driven Green to become more than a scorer, but winning is his top focus.
Udoka says the conversations with Green throughout the off-season have been pleasing. He has enjoyed seeing Green spend his off-season working out with several new and old teammates.
Developing a winning mentality and expanding his game beyond scoring are Udoka's top objectives for his third-year prospect. Green led the 22-60 Rockets in scoring last season, averaging a career-best 22.1 points on 41.6 percent shooting from the field, 3.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds across 76 games.
You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24
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