Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green wants to make sure that his fans halfway across the globe know how much he appreciates them.
“It feels great. Coming into the Philippines, everyone gives so much love and support,” Green said. “To come back and give my love and support back to them – it means the world to me. I’m just happy to be here.”
The Filipino-American standout is back in the Philippines as part of the “JG4 Manila Tour,” his tour as an adidas global ambassador. He flew in on Wednesday and held a press conference on Thursday at the adidas Brand Center in Glorietta 3. He capped off the day at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay with several activities and exhibitions showcasing Filipino food and culture.
This marks the third visit for Green who came to the country back in 2018 and 2019 as a participant in the National Basketball Training Center. Now an NBA player and a global rising star, Green hasn’t forgotten about his Filipino roots and his fans.
“Even when I’m in Houston, I see Twitter, I see Instagram, all my fans DM-ing me telling me how they’ve been supporting me, rocking my jersey, rocking my swag. I feel it everywhere I go,” Green said. “I appreciate everybody keeping that same love and energy.”
The 20-year-old versatile scorer put up 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists for the Rockets in his rookie season and was selected to the 2022 NBA All-Rookie Team. In the offseason, he shared that there are certain things he wants to work on heading into his sophomore year.
“The specific part that I want to work on in my game is probably making reads, making decisions faster, and really just learning how to win,” he said. “We had a rough season last year with a rebuild. So just learning how to win.”
The Rockets were at the bottom of the standings last season with a disappointing 20–62 record. Green was one of the few bright spots of a team boasting a lot of young and raw talent.
“My mindset is just to go in and give the best version of myself on and off the court,” he said as he and his team try to build a winning mentality. “We’re in [rebuilding mode] right now, trying to get everybody on the same page, try to go in the right direction… so we try to keep the same mindset in trying to win.”
Green still has a long and rich career ahead of him. As he continues to try to make his mark in the NBA, he already has words of wisdom for fans trying to follow in his footsteps.
“Keep your head down, stay in the gym, stay focused, and don't get sidetracked,” Green said. “Keep the main thing. If basketball is the main thing, then put your mind to it, and you can do anything.”
