2021 NBA Draft Scouting Report: SG Jalen Green

PSO’s original Scouting Reports strive to be uniquely valuable in evaluating a player’s future outlook by focusing on the four main subjects that summarize a player’s likelihood of succeeding at the next level including: Natural Athleticism, developed NBA-Caliber Skills, proven Production, and overall Risk that each individual player presents to a team drafting him. For a full breakdown of PSO’s Scouting Reports, click here.

BIO

Pos: SG

Hometown: Fresno, CA

School: G League Ignite

DOB (Age): 2/9/02 (Age 19)

Height: 6’6″ | Weight: 178 lbs.

Wingspan: N/A | Vertical: N/A

INTERESTING FACTS

1st major recruit to commit to the G-League Ignite program; chose the professional route over Auburn
Was named MVP of the FIBA U17 World Cup in July of 2018
Mom’s side of family is from the Philippines, said he might represent them one day if he maintains eligibility

ATHLETICISM

Pros

Elite leaping ability; is able to soar towards the basket for highlight reel dunks, makes it all look easy
Great above the rim finishing; maintains coordination at any level of his jump
Good frame and wingspan for his size with the potential to add more weight
Fast player without the ball in his hands, can travel long distances in the air
Quick in tight spaces, easily gets into the lane and can blow by his defender consistently
Very quick reflexes; fast hands on defense and reacts quickly to what he sees in the defense
Powerful dunker; ability to swing momentum with his uber-athletic plays

Cons

Current size will be a liability against bigger players in the NBA; will have to add weight

Grade: A

NBA SKILLS

Pros

Great scoring potential; can get buckets at all 3 levels; but especially effective inside the arc
Strong dribble package; very quick and decisive with his moves, defenders are always playing catchup
Finishes well at and above the rim; does not shy away from contact and uses glass well
Solid defensive potential, should be able to handle most other 2-guards down the road
Enjoys fast-paced offense; should flourish in run and gun systems that get up and down the court
Lots of evidence of advanced offensive moves; step backs behind the arc and elite dribble combinations
Makes highlight-type behind the back dishes to the open guy; has good vision

Cons

Plays too fast at times; once he learns how to change his pace he can expand offensive game
Needs to increase attention to detail on defense

Grade: A

PRODUCTION

Pros

17.9 PPG against grown men, most with NBA experience; very impressive for a prospect his age
1.7 SPG demonstrates his playmaking potential of the defensive side of the ball
2.0 fouls per 36 minutes; does not let his lack of size lead to silly fouls too often
82.9 FT%; good sign for his potential from behind the arc, solid shooting mechanics
37.6 projected NBA 3P%; scouts are hopeful he can deliver from behind the arc
Has the ability to pour on the points, eight games with over 20 points, and 30 points in playoff game

Cons

2.8 APG; could be better, but he does have passing skills; Most expect this to increase in the league
.172 FT rate; for such a good free throw shooter he should be getting to the line more
2.7 TOV shows a tendency to be sloppy with the ball which needs to get cleaned up in the league

Grade: A-

RISK

Pros

Offensive potential is very high and perfect for the types of offenses in today’s NBA
Potential to add lots of muscle once he is on an NBA training plan
Developed offensive bag already who can beat defenses from a variety of spots & angles
Confident on both sides of the floor and sets a good example for his teammates
Free throw percentage bodes well for shot development
Fans will love to watch him play; highlight reel plays will sell more tickets for the team
Will not be 20 until halfway through his rookie year; ahead of his age in terms of development
Trailblazer/natural leader; decided to take a different route and play in a new type of system for a year

Cons

First product of the G-League Ignite; there is no basis to judge these prospects off of
If outside shot does not develop more, scoring potential is significantly lower
Must gain weight to be effective on the defensive end in the NBA

Grade: A-

OVERALL

When Jalen Green decided to play on the first ever G-League Ignite team last year, there were a flurry of opinions from the media and fans alike. No matter what people thought about the decision, everyone was interested to see how the beginning of the NBA experiment turned out. Green and his fellow top prospects performed admirably against many former and current NBA players. Green lived up to his billing and as expected, entered the draft as a top prospect.

Green will immediately bring an electrifying offensive style of play to whatever team selects him. He is a high-flyer who also has a great isolation game. He has solid pick-and-roll potential and he is always a threat to catch a lob in transition. Defensively, he will need to add weight to keep up with the stronger wings in the league, but that should not be an issue once he is surrounded by a professional training staff.

Pro Comp: Bradley Beal (WAS)

Projected Rd/Pick: Top-4

Prime Destinations: HOU, TOR, DET, CLE

OVERALL Grade: A