EMIRATES NBA CUP

December 13, 2024

Jalen Green

Houston Rockets

Semifinal Practice Day

Q. Jalen, just in terms of the mentality of not only yourself but the team going into a game like this, where's your head at right now?

JALEN GREEN: I would say we're pretty locked in. This will be a big moment for us as a team, collectively coming out and being able to show who we is. I think we'll be able to show that.

Q. How can the experience of being here, being in this setting help this team grow?

JALEN GREEN: If we win it, then it shows that we're ready. I've said it, I think all of my teammates have pretty much said it, that the goal is the playoffs. I think the atmosphere and the play style of the Cup is similar to the playoffs. So we're getting a taste of it right now.

Q. Just given that the season is still at least 60 more games or so left to go, how do you kind of tweak your brain from going from a big game tomorrow to, okay, we still have games in December, January and so on and so forth?

JALEN GREEN: They're going to do preparation, just locking in with the trainers and stuff. I'm pretty sure everybody's got a routine we can lock into, or that they can lock into themselves. Yeah, they've just got to do it, staying ready, things like that.

Q. Just want to ask you about, first off, the start of your rookie season. This team is completely different from a wins and losses category. Even for you being a leader to seeing all the stuff you've done with your team during the summer to bring that camaraderie now. What can you say has been the biggest difference from your rookie season all the way up to now that you've seen even for your growth and the team's growth?

JALEN GREEN: I would say just how we all interact with each other. It is more so like a family, not a group. The way we handle losses, the way we handle wins, the way we're communicating on the court is very different from when I was first here, like the people I had around. Not discredit to those people, but it's a different level of winning basketball, you know what I'm saying?

Q. From just the area of basketball that you've come from, winning and being collective and talking as a group, I don't really see that in the high school realm like it is, like it's supposed to be. How was it for you making that adjustment? I know you went to the Ignite, but then having to go to the NBA and seeing, hey, man, we've got to communicate and be on the same page. It's not just about me anymore.

JALEN GREEN: Yeah, communicating is a big thing. You've got to let your man know when he messes up. He's got to let you know when you're messing up. That's called holding each other accountable. If you can't do that, there's no growth. But I think we all do a pretty good job of that.

Q. You mentioned obviously how things are kind of night and day from your rookie year. I'm curious what kind of effect Fred has had since he's come in.

JALEN GREEN: He's been a big, big plus for us, his poise and just being calm with the ball.

We're a young team. We tend to get sped up and stuff. So him coming in and be able to slow the game down and get us in our spots and run the offense for us has been very big.