HOUSTON, July 23, 2025
Jalen Green, now a starting guard for the Phoenix Suns, voiced understanding regarding the trade that sent him from the Houston Rockets to acquire All-Star forward Kevin Durant. Green, 23, was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.
“This is a business, and if I was up there in the executive chair, I probably would’ve made the deal, too.”
In a Players Tribune article penned by Green himself, he reflected on his departure from Houston. He admitted he “didn’t want to be traded” but conceded that he “gets it.” Green expressed that from a business perspective, he likely would have made the same move if he were in the executive’s position.
“I think it’s a better situation for both sides,” Green wrote, “and I’m just excited to get it popping with Book (Devin Booker), and to create that winning culture that we figured out down here in Houston.”
Green was a key scorer for the Rockets during the 2024-25 season, helping the team improve significantly. After struggling in his first two NBA seasons with fewer than 22 wins, the Rockets achieved a 52-30 record and secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Green played a pivotal role in this turnaround, guiding Houston out of its rebuilding phase.
However, with emerging talents like Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, alongside experienced players such as Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams, the Rockets’ front office aimed to add an elite perimeter scorer to solidify their championship contention. While Green has the potential to become that player, Durant is already an established elite scorer.
The trade, which officially occurred weeks after Green’s underwhelming performance in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, garnered significant approval for General Manager Rafael Stone and the Rockets. The move has been widely seen as a logical step, one that Green himself appears to comprehend.
Green’s full article can be read online.
