“Both Jalen and Dillon are beloved throughout our organization,” said GM Rafael Stone. “We’re very grateful for their contributions on the court and in the community and wish them all the best.”
In statements from general manager Rafael Stone and social media posts from the team’s official accounts, the Houston Rockets expressed their gratitude to both Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks for their time with the organization.
Both were traded to the Phoenix Suns as part of the blockbuster trade bringing All-Star forward Kevin Durant to Houston.
“Both Jalen and Dillon are beloved throughout our organization,” said Rafael Stone, general manager of the Rockets. “We’re very grateful for their contributions on the court and in the community and wish them all the best.”
Regarding Green, Stone said in Sunday’s trade announcement:
Jalen’s basketball journey over the past four years, from entering the league as a teenager to becoming an established NBA player, played a major role in the development of our team and organization. Off the court, Jalen’s kindness and commitment to teammates, coaches, and staff were important parts of our culture.
On Brooks, Stone added:
Dillon’s impact was significant to the team’s growth over the past two seasons. Every day, we asked him to lead by example with his toughness and intensity; time and again, he delivered.
Green, 23, was selected by Houston at No. 2 overall in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft. He started all 307 of his games played for the Rockets, averaging 20.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.
Brooks, 29, was acquired by Houston as part of a trade with Memphis on July 8, 2023. He started all 147 of his games played for the Rockets, averaging 13.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
Last season, both Green and Brooks were starters on a Houston team that finished 52-30 and with the No. 2 record in the Western Conference. Brooks was among the top defenders and shot nearly 40% from 3-point range, while Green was its leading scorer at 21 points per game.
