Uncle Jeff is back again this season. Jeff Green signed a one-year, $3.3 million veteran’s minimum deal in the offseason, and comes back to the Rockets as a jack of all trades. Green’s primary job is that of a team chemistry veteran, with the 39-year-old earning his “Unc” moniker over 17 years in the league and 11 different teams. He’s also a former teammate of Kevin Durant, and keeping him around for another season seemed like a wise move with so many young players still on this Rockets team. He’s also a popular,
stabalizing force in the locker room, though with the Rockets already dealing with injury concerns, he could see a little bit of action as well.
Green is still capable. Last year, he averaged 5.4 points and 1.8 rebounds on 50.4 percent shooting from the field and 36.7 percent from deep. He played in 32 games, starting 3, and he averaged 12.4 minutes per contest. Green can perform in small bursts, doing some dirty work, hitting open shots, and being a threat from range. As part of Houston’s back bench, his job was to stay ready and be the same stabalizing force on the court as he was in the locker room.
With Fred VanVleet out for the season and Dorian Finney-Smith not likely to play to start the season, we may be seeing some more of Unc this year, particularly on nights when Durant sits and there’s another forward spot open. Green is still in fantastic shape. And with several more young Rockets looking to take a step forward this season, particularly Reed Sheppard, who is tight with Green in the locker room, his mentorship skills will likely be needed more than ever as well. It’s another season for Uncle Jeff, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t his last one either.
