Rockets rookie Jalen Green didn’t want to play for the Pistons

The Houston Rockets landed potentially the next face of the franchise with rookie guard Jalen Green.

Although Cade Cunningham beat him out for the top overall pick, Green recently voiced to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports that he didn’t mind because he didn’t want to play in Detroit.

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“I wanted to be the No. 1 pick, but as for the location, I didn’t want to be in Detroit,” Green told Yahoo Sports. “I felt a lot more comfortable in Houston. It felt like a real homie environment. With Detroit, it felt like I was just going back to the G League bubble, and I just got out of the bubble. That’s pretty much what it was.

“In the [G League] bubble, I didn’t really have anything to do but just stay in the gym. I didn’t have any time to get away for myself. The only time I had to get away for myself was in my apartment. That’s what it felt like in Detroit. I wouldn’t be stepping outside in Detroit. There are not many things you can do in Detroit like that. You’re going to stay in the gym and then go back to your apartment.”

Green clearly holds no fondness for the city of Detroit as it brought back bad memories. His approach goes far beyond the game of basketball as he’s accounting for his lifestyle off the court.

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Meanwhile, Houston offers him more in the way of providing a balanced life on and off the court. Green will also have the chance to become the face of a franchise that has taken steps toward building a competitive team.

Houston is in a rebuilding phase, but the team is filled with young talent around him along with a former All-Star point guard in John Wall. The opportunity is there to quickly become one of the game’s top young players.