Jalen Green is one of the most prolific and high-flying young talents in the league. On Monday, the Houston Rockets guard secured a 3-year $106 million rookie contract extension with the team. With the 22-year-old guard set to celebrate his big day, he saw an outpouring of love from fans and family. But the most important post, perhaps, came from Green’s baby mother, Draya Michele.
The 39-year-old model took to Instagram to congratulate her partner on his big contract extension. In her story, Michele wrote, “Congrats! Short-term Money Long!”. Alluding to the 3-year extension that Jalen Green signed, the model also shared another story emphasising the unique 2+1 year contract that he signed.
Jalen Green has become the first player to negotiate a nine-figure contract deal on a two-plus one-year rookie extension. The 22-year-old now enters his 4th season with a guaranteed deal with the Rockets. As for his partner, Michele will surely be overjoyed.
Green and Michele have been dating for just over a year, and the couple welcomed their firstborn in May this year. Over the course of their relationship, the couple has faced a lot of criticism owing to their 17-year-age gap. Michele has often come under fire from fans and pundits alike, who have always found it difficult to process the major age gap between the couple.
Can Jalen Green lead the Rockets to playoff contention?
Jalen Green had a stellar year with the Rockets last season. Even though the guard started the season slow, he ended with averages of 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 82 games in 2023-24. However, Green’s breakout performances came towards the end of the season. With starting centre Alperen Sengun injured, Green took charge of the Rockets’ offence.
The 2nd overall pick in the 2021 draft showed off his All-Star potential, averaging 27.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 15 games in March 2024. During his stellar offensive run, Green led the Rockets to a 13-2 record. However, the team barely missed the play-in game, falling to the 11th seed as the Golden State Warriors clinched the 10th seed.
The addition of rookie guard Reed Sheppard will also help bolster the Rockets’ deep guard rotation. With the Rockets coming into the season completely healthy, all eyes will be on Green to replicate his end-season heroics to lead Clutch City to the playoffs.
