Jalen Green has been primed to become a top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Even before he graduated high school, the guard was ranked as the nation’s best player in the ESPN Top 100.
With offers from practically every top school in the country, Green took a unique route to the NBA by playing in the G League, forgoing his college eligibility.
He looked great with the G League Ignite, averaging 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest at just 19 years old.
Now, with the 2021 NBA Draft just a few weeks away, Green is a lock for being selected in the top-five.
In his eyes however, he’s the clear-cut best player in the class.
“He’s always said he wants to be No. 1,” said Green’s high school coach Brad Roznovosky. “He wants to be compared to Kobe [Bryant]. If you asked Jalen today, he can tell you that you’re crazy if you don’t take him No. 1.”
Green certainty has high hopes of he’s going to be compared to Kobe Bryant one day, as he was one of the best players to ever play the game.
Green says he didn’t start paying attention to the fact that he wasn’t projected to be the top pick in his class until recently, but confirms that he should be.
“I didn’t really start paying attention to it until after the bubble,” Green said. “I just felt like I should be No. 1 because I work harder than a lot of the dudes in my class. That’s the only reason. It’s not something that could have been or should have been; it’s just because I work harder.”
Regardless, Green has the tools to become one of the NBA’s most prolific scorers in recent history.
