Durable Green closes in on goal
Third-year guard’s quest to play in all 82 games a sign of his resilience and growing maturity
PORTLAND, Ore. — Jalen Green put up his shot and immediately started back-pedaling, as if to coax it in with body English.
As the shot hit the rim and bounced away, the Trail Blazers’ 7-foot-2, 258pound center Moses Brown tripped over Green’s right foot, both went down, and Brown landed with his full body weight on Green’s left leg.
Green remained on the floor in pain, grabbing at his leg as if someone swung a baseball bat into his shin. He struggled to the bench and then to the Moda Center visitors’ locker room but would return to the game.
When he headed to the bus an hour later, he was limping badly, and in a rarity, admitted an injury.
“My leg is pretty sore,” he said Friday night. “I’m good though.
“It hurt. It hurt. Full body weight. It’s crazy.”
Green, however, said nothing had changed. He was not concerned that the injury would be more severe than a bruise. He intends to play Sunday in the Rockets’ season finale in Los Angeles against the Clippers, completing his goal to play in all 82 Rockets games this season. He played in 67 and 76 games his first two seasons and has played in 103 in a row.
“I’ve already had pain on the side of my leg,” Green said. “I didn’t know what it was. I just know it was hurting. I walked off the court fine, got back on the court. It’s just the motion in my ankle is a little shaky.
“I’m going to get there. I’m going to get treatment and get all 82.”
There are 17 players on pace to play at least 82 games, led by Philadelphia’s Buddy Hield who, because of a mid-season trade from the Pacers to 76ers, can play in 84 games.
Green is one of just six players to start all of his team’s games. Of the players that will play all of his team’s games, only Domantas Sabonis, Mikal Bridges and Austin Reeves average more minutes per game than Green.
Green’s durability, however, is not just about good fortune. He has not missed games. That does not mean he has not been hurt.
“A guy playing heavy minutes, but not only that, a young guy, especially in this day and age when guys sit out with pretty much anything,” coach Ime Udoka said. “Not only the fact that he’s playing a lot of minutes but is an … integral part of our team. Just the mentality of some of the young guys today to sit out with any nick and knack. His playing through stuff has been great, especially with the struggles he had early.”
To Udoka, that could be the significance of Green playing every game. It has been another sign of resilience. It shows an ability to play through injuries, but also to bounce back from struggles, most recently going from scoring a season-low three points and getting benched Thursday in Utah to scoring 26 points and leading the Rockets to a win in Portland the next day.
“It’s been one of the biggest signs of growth for him,” Udoka said. “Being available is a big thing. Him battling through adversity, ups and downs this year, and continue to grind it out, he hasn’t missed anything. That’s been great, a sign of resilience for our guys, he plays through, everybody being injured or in pain at some point.
“It’s something that doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Green said playing in all 82 games are “for sure” important to him, “just because I train my body to play all 82. I want to play every game.
“It’s all about the recovery, staying on top of strength in the weight room. Everything’s the same. It’s just better routine.”
That improved regimen began in the offseason, but Green said he has also learned to follow the example of Rockets veterans, from former teammate Eric Gordon advocating for the use of a cold tub to Fred VanVleet’s, Jeff Green’s and Dillon Brooks’ diligence.
“Fred’s always taking care of his body. D.B.’s always in the weight room. Jeff is always getting treatment,” Green said. “So, you know, seeing their routine, what they do, you pick up on it. E.G. was the first person to tell me (to use the) cold tub. He practically lived in the cold tub. I see the vets all the time work on their recovery.”
Green also has become adept at taking hits without landing awkwardly. At his best, he attacks the rim. Listed as 6-6, 183 pounds, Green crashes into much larger bodies and the court. Landing safely, though often on body parts other than his feet, is essential to get back up.
“Especially a guy that is as athletic and high flying and high in the air at times, and takes those hits, it is beneficial to learn how to fall to avoid serious injury,” Udoka said. “You kind of see the opposite of guys who don’t fall well or fall poorly all the time, you can see they’re probably going to have an injury or two early in their career.”
Green cited Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade saying “‘You learn how to fall.’
“Especially if you’re athletic and you get downhill, if you’re falling and you get through contact, you have to be (graceful).”
Still, there are times that Green had had to shake off the aches and pains of the season or had to play though injuries he was hesitant to acknowledge. His March scoring surge began with his dealing with a thumb injury. There have been others long before Brown landed on Green.
With one game to go, the plan was to play through one more injury.
“I’ve been playing through a lot,” Green said. “That’s part of the game. To be able to perform at the highest level each night, I think I figured that out with my preparation during the summer and all season, really. It’s all paid off.”