Draft 2021: Jalen Green very happy to have gone through the G-League before the NBA | NBA

He is one of the pioneers, along with Jonathan Kuminga, Isaiah Todd and Daishen Nix. Of those who joined the Ignite team in the G-League to join the NBA, instead of doing a “one-and-done” year in the NCAA.

And after a 15-game campaign concluded with 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists, 46% success including 37% away, with an elimination in the quarterfinals against the Raptors 905, Jalen Green does not regret at all his choice. He even encourages interested prospects to follow his lead.

« Of course I would tell them to do it », he replies to the Bleacher Report. “If their goal is to reach the NBA and they’re one of the best in the country at their age, that’s for sure. You are going to figure things out very early on, you are going to be ahead of the program, you are going to learn how to be a pro. This year was the first year (of the G-League Ignite), so I’m sure the following years will be even better. « 

Alongside veterans who have long played in the NBA like Jarrett Jack and Bobby Brown, and with a coach (Biran Shaw) three-time NBA champion, Jalen Green believes he has been best prepared for the Big League.

“I learned to be a pro very early on. I was placed in a professional environment. I improved my habits as a pro on and off the pitch ”

“It was overall a great experience. I learned a lot, I learned to be a pro very early on. I was placed in a professional environment. I improved my habits as a pro on and off the pitch. I feel like I have become better overall. The young people who were there also improved. « 

Jalen Green thus globally confirmed what the scouts already knew: namely that he is extremely fast, with a fantastic first step which allows him to make the difference very often. Explosive and already a good shooter, he is a distinguished attacker, very often compared to Zach LaVine. Also because he has to develop his vision of the game as well as his defense, and be more than a scorer.

Announced in the Top 5 of the cuvée, or even the Top 3, it confirms that it is indeed aiming for first place!

“For me, it’s a kind of motivation. At first we didn’t even talk about me as number 1 (from the Draft) because of my background. It was different and it shut me out for a while. Even after the bubble, they still talked about it. Seeing this now is an added motivation. I feel like this is where I should have been. It’s a dream come true, that’s for sure. It gives me shivers « .