Former G League Ignite prospect Jalen Green has been selected second overall by the Houston Rockets in the NBA draft. Entering this year, P.J. Hairston (26th overall in 2014) was the only G League player drafted in the first round. As such, he's the highest-drafted G-League product of all-time.
Here's a bit more about how he reached this point of his career.
10.1: In 2019, Green was the youngest member of the USA U19 World Cup Team, which went 7-0 on the way to a gold medal. It was the third gold medal of Green's young career (2018 FIBA U17 World Cup, 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship). He was named MVP of the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup.
During the 2019 run, he appeared in all seven games while averaging 10.1 points and 1.7 steals in just over 21 minutes per game.
3,299: That is Green's high school point total between San Joaquin Memorial (2,291) and Prolific Prep (1,008). He recorded the first figure over three seasons with San Joaquin, where Green won the Division II Central Section CIF titles in 2018 and 2019.
His latter mark set the Prolific Prep single-season scoring record (31.5 PPG).
2nd: Since 2007, Green and Brandon Jennings (2008) are the only No. 1 overall recruits to bypass college. This marks the second straight year a five-star prospect decided against the NCAA ranks (LaMelo Ball).
Prior to making his G League commitment, Green narrowed his potential college choices down to Auburn and Memphis.
Why is Jalen Green a No. 1-caliber prospect in any other draft? Aside from the explosiveness/scoring instincts, I've always loved his mentality. Ultra-confident. Believes he's the best player in the draft. Not a politician when you talk to him. Real dude with a quiet toughness. pic.twitter.com/U6REM0HLhg
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) July 27, 2021
56.3: Green entered the G League with immense promise as a scorer, and he wasted few opportunities flashing it. He shot 56.3% overall in clutch-time last season and led the Ignite with 22 points in such situations.
The Ignite finished the season tied with the third-best win percentage in clutch-time situations (.750, 6-2 overall record).
$500,000: That was Green's salary over his lone season in NBA's professional pathway opportunity, a G League initiative that pays elite prospects over the course of the one-year program.
Green signing up paved the way for fellow highly-regarded prospects Isaiah Todd, Daishen Nix and Kai Sotto to also sign up. This year's No. 2 overall pick led the G League Ignite with 17.9 points and 1.5 steals per game.
The team finished with a 4-2 record in games he shot at least 50 percent from the field.
ESPN Stats and Information contributed to this story.
