Success takes time, but a few NBA players have made it big in a remarkably short period. At just 22, Jalen Green has secured such a lucrative contract, which not only showcases his on-court talent, but also his acumen in navigating the business side! The terms of his contract with the Houston Rockets highlight the significant investment made by the team in him. Let’s take a closer look.

What is Jalen Green’s contract with the Houston Rockets?

After spending three seasons with the Houston Rockets, Jalen Green has negotiated a good deal. In October 2024, Green and the Rockets agreed upon a rookie extension worth about $106 million for the next three years. This extension was agreed upon just before the October deadline and includes a player option for the third season, which means Green will have the flexibility to opt-out in 2027, allowing the young gun to potentially negotiate an even bigger contract as a 25-year-old!

Looking ahead, the Rockets’ decision to offer Jalen such a deal gives, both, the team and player a lot of flexibility. For Green, the opportunity to opt-out of the deal after the 2026-2027 season, also gives him a chance to test the market, when he just enters the prime of his career. If Green continues to improve and reaches his full potential, he could be in line for a contract extension worth over $200 million, making his current deal a stepping stone to even greater financial success.

Right after the young gun signed his rookie extension, hoops reporter, Shams Charania posted, “Jalen Green is the first NBA player to successfully negotiate a 2-plus-1 rookie extension on a nine-figure deal. Green became a pioneer as the first NBA G League Ignite signing in 2020. Now lands the most unique rookie extension ever.”

The structure of Jalen Green’s contract also aligns well with the Rockets’ rebuilding process. While the team has shown faith in Green, the shorter duration of his extension means they will not be tied to him long-term if he doesn’t continue to develop as expected. This flexibility allows them to make adjustments, particularly as they evaluate their overall roster and path back to playoff contention.

What was Jalen Green’s rookie contract? How much has he earned over the years in the NBA?

Before this extension, Jalen Green was playing on his rookie contract—a four-year, $40.8 million deal he signed after being drafted second overall in 2021. The finances of the deal were fully guaranteed. In his rookie season, the young gun was paid a sum close to $9 million, which rose to around $9.5 million in the 2022-23 season.

By the 2023-2024 season, his salary had grown to almost $10 million! Over the first three seasons of his career, Green has already earned around $28.3 million. Now, entering the final year of that deal, Cunningham has become the 4th best-paid player of the Houston Rockets. His base salary is projected to be around $12 million, marking a 26.2% jump from his previous salary for 2023-2024. This increase reflects his development as a player and the Rockets’ decision to reward him with a hefty contract extension.Jalen Green’s combined earning of $40.9 million to date reflects his growing importance to the team. In his first three seasons, he has averaged over 19 points per game, contributing significantly to the team’s offense. In year 4, the youngster is averaging 20 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. The contract extension brightly reflects the potential the Houston side sees in him, betting that his talent will continue to develop and that he will soon become one of the NBA’s top scorers! What do you think?