In full-circle moment, NBA TV’s John Wall praises Jalen Green and his former Houston team
When longtime star James Harden forced a trade away from the Rockets in January 2021, a multi-year franchise rebuild was officially underway. In the early stages, veteran point guard John Wall was the floor general for an extremely young team.
It didn't come without challenges. In the ensuing 2021-22 season, the Rockets and Wall couldn't come to terms on a playing role that made sense for both sides, with Houston preferring to give more on-ball opportunities to younger guards — such as Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green.
So, the Rockets and Wall came to a non-playing arrangement in which he was still paid but kept away from the developing team. In the subsequent 2022 offseason, his contract was bought out.
There were understandably some lingering hard feelings, and especially on the side of a five-time NBA All-Star and a former No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2010 first round. Pride often accompanies those types of career accomplishments, and as recently as early 2023, Wall was highly critical of general manager Rafael Stone and Houston's rebuilding plan at the time.
But two-plus years later, it's clear that Houston's long-term plan is working out. The Rockets improved from 22-60 in 2022-23 to 41-41 in 2023-24, the first season under new head coach Ime Udoka. And now, the Rockets are at 46-25 in 2024-25 and in the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference standings.
On Friday, in something of a full-circle moment, Wall did television work as a studio analyst for NBA TV — which broadcast Houston's matchup at Miami. The Rockets went on to win that game, giving them an NBA-leading streak of nine consecutive wins.
Regarding the Rockets, Wall had kind words. Among his comments:
For Jalen Green, what he’s been doing on the defensive end is the reason why I think he’s taken this jump (as a player). If you remember, last year, early in the season, you'd have to take him out of the game in the fourth quarter. Having Fred (VanVleet) there, Jeff Green — even though he's just been on the bench — Steven Adams, and Dillon Brooks, being leaders and giving that veteran presence… he’s learned how to be better, and pick his spots. And when he’s playing at the level he’s playing at, he’s been great.
Green is currently the leading scorer (21.2 points per game) for the West's No. 2 team, and he is also having the best season of his four-year NBA career by many advanced metrics. To Wall's point, that reflects the strides he's made in becoming a better all-around player.
It’s crazy to have John Wall talking about the 45-25 Rockets. How time flies
— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) March 21, 2025
pic.twitter.com/D3utu6aWpO
Wall and Green were technically teammates in the latter's 2021-22 rookie season, though they never played a game together due to the aforementioned non-playing arrangement.
In comments from late 2021, Green referred to Wall as a "big brother" and credited him with useful development tips for life as an NBA rookie. Wall understandably wanted to play, which led to the organizational tension, but he seemingly never allowed it to affect his relationships with Green and other players on Houston's rebuilding roster at the time.
Now 34 years old, Wall hasn't officially retired from playing basketball and says he wants to get back in the league, but he hasn't played in the NBA since January 2023. Thus, it seems he is starting to focus on post-career opportunities, such as on-camera media work.
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: In full-circle moment, John Wall praises Jalen Green and former team
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