As Houston ended a five-year playoff drought, Rockets star Jalen Green’s in-game fit against Utah Jazz was full of Filipino pride.
For the first time in his NBA career, Jalen Green will taste some playoff action come later this April.
Green was among seven players in double-figures of a convincing 143-105 Rockets rout of the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, April 3, to help Houston seal a postseason berth.
[ALSO READ: Coast-to-Coast: Thunder move six wins away from 70; Rockets punch playoff ticket]
The 23-year-old high flyer posted a team-high 22 points, and he did so while paying tribute to his Philippine lineage on Filipino Heritage night in H-Town.
Green posted an Instagram Story of a slick insole – designed by Filipino Artist Quiccs — which he wore against the Hawks.
“Some heat for tonight,’ the second pick of the 2021 draft wrote.
[Screenshot: Instagram | @jalen]
He also rocked the same Player Exclusive (PE) shoes that two-time UAAP MVP and current Goyang Sono Skygunners cager Kevin Quiambao wore in his KBL campaign.
In return, Quiambao showed his appreciation for Green --- whose Rockets also claimed their first 50-win season since 2018 in decimating the also-ran Jazz.
[Screenshot: Instagram | @qu1ambs]
Across 76 games this season, the former NBA G League Ignite is averaging 21.5 points 4.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.
Green has 13 30-point games alone in his fourth year in the league as Houston battles to lock up the West no. 2 seed with less than two weeks left in regular season play.