Post-game question puts Jalen Green in tough spot over issue Rockets fixed after trade

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Jalen Green has played his first game since leaving Houston, and already, he is noticing a difference from his time with the Rockets.

The Rockets made a move to bring in Kevin Durant during the offseason, sending Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to Phoenix in the deal.

After the trade went through, Houston put out statements thanking both players for their contributions, but were clear about wanting to make room for a superstar addition.

Green did not seem bothered by the move. In fact, he looked forward to joining Phoenix and getting a fresh start with the Suns.

In his first appearance for Phoenix, he was asked about experiencing something new that was not common during his time with Houston.

Jalen Green stays quiet on shooting opportunities with Houston Rockets

Green had a strong showing in his first game with the Phoenix Suns, scoring 29 points in just 23 minutes against the LA Clippers, including 6-of-13 from three-point range.

After the game, the 23-year-old was asked about the quality of looks he got and whether it was the most open he had ever been. He declined to comment, choosing not to address it directly.

While Green did not criticise his former team outright, his silence suggested there were issues with spacing during his time there.

An examination of their pre- and post-Jalen Green departure statistics reveals precisely why he dodged the question – answering truthfully would have reflected poorly on him.

Houston Rockets see better spacing after Jalen Green exit

During the 2024-25 season, the Houston Rockets struggled from three-point range, shooting just 35.3% – good for only 21st in the NBA at the time.

Green’s numbers matched that trend closely, as he hit 35.4% from deep last year.

But since Green moved on, Houston has seen a marked shift in their outside shooting. They are now hitting 42.7% of their threes, which leads the league this season.

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That improvement is not easy to ignore, and it raises fair questions about whether moving on from players like Green played a role in turning things around.