Jalen Green's performance during the Houston Rockets' playoff run raised eyebrows as he struggled under the Golden State Warriors' defensive pressure, averaging just 13.3 points and shooting poorly from the field. Despite a strong regular season where he led the team with 21 points per game, this inconsistency has sparked discussions about his role as the franchise player. General Manager Rafael Stone emphasized that one playoff series shouldn't define a player's future, and Coach Ime Udoka pointed out the need for Green to adapt and grow from this experience.

Stone defended Green's value, noting the Rockets' net rating improves significantly with him on the court. There's optimism that with focused development over the summer, including increasing his physical strength and improving his response to defensive schemes, Green can elevate his game. His contract extension gives the Rockets time to see if he can fulfill the potential they envisioned when they made him the second overall pick in the 2021 draft.