HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Two years ago, Jalen Green stared across the floor of a gym in Southern California and saw Bronny James on the other side. He'll see a James staring back at him for the next two games a member of the Rockets, but this time it will be the old man and it will be on the floor at Staples Center. Life comes at you fast.
"That's one of the goals in the NBA," Green said Saturday. "It's going to be an exciting moment, a great experience."
The Rockets embark on a five-game, west coast road trip to Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix and San Francisco on Sunday. Each team they play will have a former MVP or future hall of famer on it, starting with the first two games against LeBron James and the Lakers, so it's easy for a 19-year-old, just five games into his NBA career to be a little star struck.
"You kind of look at LeBron like a superhero in a way," Green said. "The way he carries himself, he's been in the league for so long and he's still moving the way he's moving, putting millions on his body it's just showing that's paying off and he's still healthy."
Green and his army of teenaged teammates will take on one of the NBA's glamour franchises in one of its glamour arenas on Sunday and Tuesday. for past generations the dream was playing in the Boston Garden or Madison Square Garden, but for this generation of NBA players the environment of Staples Center is unique and exciting.
"The lights are different when you go in there," Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said.
Hailing from Fresno, three hours away, Green admitted playing on the floor at Staples Center will be a special moment, as it will be for Kevin Porter Jr.
"Those landmarks like Staples and Madison Square Garden, you always dreamed of playing on that floor, or even watching the game there, so being able to play and have that energy from the fans and feel it and being the key focus on that court is crazy."
An ankle injury kept Porter off the floor for the second half of the Rockets loss to the Utah Jazz on Thursday. He was limited in Saturday's practice to guard against any setbacks. A decision on his availability will be made after Sunday morning's shootaround, but Porter said he wants to play.
He was hurt when USC played TCU at Staples Center, and he did not get to play there as a rookie with Cleveland. He did suit up when the Rockets played the Los Angeles Clippers in that building last season, but there were no fans.
"Definitely want to play this time around," he said. "Should be fun playing at Staples."
Assuming he does play against the Lakers, Porter will suit up against a team armed with four of the top 76 players in NBA history in James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, and Carmelo Anthony, which in and of itself is an accomplishment.
"It's honestly like a realization, Porter said. "We grew up seeing these players play at the best of the best at a high level, and now you look across and you're defending them, you're guarding them, you're trying to beat them, and it's just a blessing, it's a realization for me to, to stay motivated and stay grinding because I'm here, but there are levels to this league, and I just want to get to their levels."
