Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green was recently a guest on Los Angeles Clippers small forward Paul George’s podcast and the rising NBA star had some interesting things to say about Kyrie Irving and James Harden.
Green, who was the second overall pick in the 2021 draft, said he was in awe of Irving when he first played against the Duke product.
“I think he had like 50,” Green said. “The way he did it was like he’s stopping on a dime, pulling up on 3s, he’s throwing the ball over his head, and I’m like, ‘Bro, what is going on?’ And it’s just like you’re on the court playing against him, still trying to compete, but it’s like you’re just in awe seeing what he’s doing.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Jalen Green, Houston Rockets & Dallas Mavericks Updates
Later in the podcast, George asked Green about Harden potentially signing with the Rockets this summer. George said he thinks it’s a bad idea for Harden to go back to Houston, while Green admitted it could be good and bad.
“I think it can play both ways like you just said, like it could help and it can hurt at the same time,” Green said. “I ain’t really talked to him too much about, you know, the rumors and stuff like that. But I mean, yeah, I’m with you on that.”
According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Harden is expected to sign with the Rockets, the team he played nine years for.
“The belief among NBA executives is that James Harden will rejoin the Houston Rockets this summer,” Pompey wrote. “Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta ‘loves’ the 76ers point guard. The franchise expects to reunite with him, sources say. Before the Rockets hired Ime Udoka on April 25, head coaching candidates were asked for their opinion on coaching Harden during the interview process, according to sources.
“Sources have said his interest in returning to Houston is mutual and not a ploy to get a lucrative deal out of the Sixers. His mother still lives in the city. He has several business ventures there. And, as one source said, ‘he’s treated like a god in Houston.’”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Jalen Green, Houston Rockets & Dallas Mavericks Updates
Harden is one of the greatest players in Rockets franchise history. He’s first all-time in 3-point field goals, free throws, assists, triple-doubles, points per game, player efficiency rating, offensive win shares, and box plus-minus.
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