When the Houston Rockets made Jalen Green the second player taken in the 2021 NBA Draft, Rookie of the Year was a high priority. Green became an early candidate to become the third player in franchise history to take home the honor after eclipsing 20 or more points during the first month of the season.
Green’s alluring start to his pro career came to a halt following a hamstring injury that sidelined him for 14 games. He fell out of the running for ROY honors by the All-Star break. But by the end of his rookie campaign, however, Green achieved more by establishing himself as the fresh face of the franchise 13 months following James Harden’s jettison to the Brooklyn Nets.