Fred VanVleet Hypes Jalen Green’s Upside, Draws Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker Comps

Though Jalen Inexperienced’s shot stays a work-in progress for the Houston Rockets, Fred VanVleet is extraordinarily assured within the 23-year-old’s potential to play at an All-Star stage.

Talking to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, VanVleet overestimated Inexperienced by evaluating his upside to that of Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker:

“I don’t know if you can go get another 2 guard with the upside or the talent level. [Anthony Edwards] maybe in Minnesota. I don’t know, does Book have more talent than Jalen or is he more skilled and more polished and more experienced and older? … I don’t know what Jalen will look like when he’s 26, 27, 28 after playoff series. And that’s the upside, where it’s like potential can get a little intoxicating. He has the talent. There’s no reason for him not to reach that level. He’s got to go through it; he’s got to fail.”

Inexperienced’s first postseason expertise has been a microcosm of the great and unhealthy in his recreation. His greatest efficiency towards the Golden State Warriors was a 38-point outing in Houston’s 109-94 victory in Recreation 2.

Within the three video games round that one, although, Inexperienced has scored a mixed whole of 24 factors on 10-of-34 taking pictures (2-of-14 from three-point vary).

There have been constructive indicators of progress with Inexperienced’s taking pictures contact this season. He made a career-high 35.4 p.c of his makes an attempt behind the arc, whereas main the Rockets in scoring common with 21.0 factors per recreation.

Inexperienced’s effectivity nonetheless leaves loads to be desired. He ranked 164th out of 185 certified guards with a 54.4 true taking pictures share.

Booker is an attention-grabbing participant to check with Inexperienced as a result of his profession received off to a sluggish begin. The Phoenix Suns star shot simply 43.7 p.c from the sector and 35.4 p.c behind the arc throughout his first 4 seasons.

For the reason that 2019-20 season, Booker has been the most effective taking pictures guards within the NBA. He has averaged 26.5 factors on 48.0 p.c taking pictures (35.4 p.c from three) with 4 All-Star choices over the previous six seasons.

Inexperienced can be coming into his age-23 season in 2025-26 having shot 42.2 p.c general and 34.2 p.c behind the arc in his first 4 seasons.

Anticipating a Booker-level leap from Inexperienced is unfair, however the Rockets wager on his ceiling 4 years in the past once they made him the No. 2 choose within the 2021 NBA draft.

It is also attention-grabbing that VanVleet talked about Booker since he has been linked to the Rockets as a possible commerce goal in the event that they flame out within the playoffs and Phoenix decides to begin wanting towards the long-term future.

Suns governor Mat Ishbia has said in no unsure phrases he will not commerce Booker, so it might be a moot level for Houston.

If a Booker commerce had been to materialize, Inexperienced would virtually definitely need to be concerned each for monetary functions and to present the Suns a longtime younger participant with the upside to be a star.

In fact, if the Rockets really imagine Inexperienced can attain his full potential, they won’t be prepared to surrender on him this summer time. It is not unusual for a younger participant in his first postseason to wrestle, then come again the next 12 months even higher.

Whereas there can be loads of time for the Rockets to consider the long run, their rapid outlook is concentrated on extending their season. They path the Warriors 3-1 and can host Recreation 5 on Wednesday needing a win to remain alive.