After spending the first four seasons of his NBA career with the Houston Rockets, former No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green will now look to make an impact as a member of the Phoenix Suns.
The Suns acquired Green as part of the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade, and there are reasons to believe he can shine right away.
Last season, the California native averaged 21 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting 42.3% from the field and 35.4% from beyond the arc. Additionally, he played in all 82 games for Houston.
Despite his solid regular season, however, Green was not as effective in the playoffs. During Houston's seven-game series against the Golden State Warriors, he averaged just 13.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists while shooting 37.2% from the floor and 29.5% from behind the line. Still, Green has a lot of talent and could be in for a career year with a new team.
Ahead of his first season in Phoenix, a report surfaced regarding an unexpected decision Green made that could be worth monitoring.
On the court, Green will be an intriguing player to watch next season. His fit alongside Suns star Devin Booker will be interesting, considering that they are both score-first guards who do not provide much on the defensive end. While there are concerns about their first next to each other, there is still a lot to like about their potential.
The start of the new season is still a few weeks away, so fans will have to wait a little while longer to see what Green can do in Phoenix. However, even before ever stepping onto the court as a member of the Suns, the 23-year-old has already made a big move.
Accoridng to Nick DePaula of ESPN, Green rejected a multi-year extension with Adidas after four years with the brand.
"As Jalen Green prepares for his first season as a new face of the Phoenix Suns, he has turned down a lucrative multi-year shoe deal extension with Adidas — making Green one of the NBA’s top current sneaker free agents," DePaula wrote on X.
As Jalen Green prepares for his first season as a new face of the Phoenix Suns, he has turned down a lucrative multi-year shoe deal extension with Adidas — making Green one of the NBA’s top current sneaker free agents.
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) September 30, 2025
Green has been featured across campaigns with Calvin Klein,… pic.twitter.com/KKNmP6hbnt
Green's decision is a bit surprising for a few reasons. Not only is Adidas one of the biggest brands an NBA player can be endorsed by, but they also gave him a signature shoe that was revealed in January.
Following his decision, Green will now be a sneaker free agent. However, according to DePaula, it is expected that the 6-foot-4 guard will wear sneakers from a variety of companies as he looks to make a name for himself in Phoenix.
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