2023 NBA Champion Forward Agrees to Deal to Return to Rockets
After signing a deal to return to the Houston Rockets, 2023 NBA champion forward Jeff Green helped this Houston team make their way back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The Rockets finished second in the Western Conference with a 52-30 record. Although they had a home-court advantage in the first round, Houston would fall short to the Golden State Warriors in seven games. Even at 38/39 years of age, Green has shown how effective just having him on the team as he’s made the playoffs in 11 of his 17 NBA seasons, and in four out of the last five seasons. Back again as a free agent, it’s been announced by Shams Charania that the veteran forward is returning to the Rockets.
Green was selected as the fifth overall pick during the 2007 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. He was later traded to the Seattle Supersonics. During his rookie season, he dropped a season-high 35 points against the Denver Nuggets and was eventually named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. After his rookie season, the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder. During his third NBA season, with the now Thunder, the future 2023 NBA champion played in all 82 games. However, he would only spend a total of three years in Oklahoma City before getting traded to the team that originally drafted him, the Celtics. Green averaged nearly 18 points a game during the 2014-2015 season, which is a career-high. Throughout the next few seasons, the veteran forward played with several teams. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies and then the Los Angeles Clippers before signing with the Orlando Magic. After spending one season in Orlando, Green was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, then signed with his hometown Washington Wizards, the Utah Jazz, the following season, the Houston Rockets, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Denver Nuggets. With the Nuggets, Green was a key contributor in helping Denver win their first-ever NBA Championship. He would return to the Rockets after winning it all with the Nuggets, spending the past two seasons in Houston, even re-signing with the team last offseason.
In the 2024-2025 NBA season, Green played just 32 games with Houston. He had three starts and averaged 12 minutes a game. During his playing, the 2023 NBA champion forward averaged five points, two rebounds, and an assist. On April 9th, Green put up 19 points along with three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 19 minutes of action in a 134-117 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. With the Rockets, Green hopes to provide solid minutes and spark another championship run as he nears the end of his career.
