Did Jalen Green play college basketball? Why did the Houston Rockets guard join the G League? All you need to know

Jalen Green is in the midst of a strong second season with the Houston Rockets. The second overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft is averaging 21.5 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game, 0.8 steals per game, and 0.2 blocks per game. Green is shooting 41.7% from the field, 32.6% from three-point range, and 79.0% from the free-throw line.

Green became the first big name to choose to bypass college in order to join the G League Ignite. He announced his decision the day that the G League introduced a new pay structure that incentivized top prospects to join the newly constructed G League Ignite roster. Five-star prospects Jonathan Kuminga, Isaiah Todd, and Daishen Nix later joined Green.

In his lone season with the G League Ignite, Jalen Green averaged 17.9 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game, 1.5 steals per game, and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field, 36.5% from the field, and 82.9% from the free-throw line. In his only playoff game, Green finished with 30 points, five rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. He shot 11-20 from the field, 3-10 from three-point range, and 4-7 from the free-throw line.

Green's decision to join the G League Ignite paid off financially as he was paid $500,000. It also did not hinder his NBA earnings or development, as he was selected second overall and has shown that he has a bright NBA future.

Watch Jalen Green's G League Ignite highlights below:

How many players have followed Jalen Green's NBA path?

Jalen Green remains the highest drafted player to come from the G League Ignite roster. In addition to the Houston Rockets guard, Jonathan Kuminga was a lottery pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, as he was selected seventh overall by the Golden State Warriors. Isaiah Todd was selected 31st overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, however, he was traded to the Washington Wizards in a five-team trade.

Dyson Daniels was the only G League Ignite player to be selected in the lottery of the 2022 NBA Draft, as the New Orleans Pelicans drafted him eighth overall. MarJon Beauchamp and Jaden Hardy were also drafted, however, as they were selected 24th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks and 37th overall by the Sacramento Kings, respectively. Hardy was moved to the Dallas Mavericks on draft night.

Watch Jalen Green's highlights from his rookie season below: