Top NBA prospect Jalen Green expressed glee and delight in representing the Philippines once he gets drafted in the NBA.
Green is projected as the No. 2 pick by ESPN's Jonathan Givony in the 2021 NBA Draft, which will happen on July 29 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
If it proceeds without any surprises, the 6-foot-6 Filipino-American guard will join the Houston Rockets.
"I love the Philippines. They show love and support," said Green. "I'm just happy that I get to represent them and I'm happy that I have a family out there and I'm tied into the Philippines. So I'm excited and I hope they're excited.
"I'm just gonna be happy that I'm getting drafted. It's a dream come true. That is all I'm happy about," added Green when asked about him being eyed as No. 2 select.
ICYMI: Green wants to be the No. 1 pick in 2021 NBA Draft
Regardless, the 19-year-old guard from Merced, California is set to make huge waves in the NBA after an impressive performance in the NBA G League, which he used a springboard to get into the biggest professional basketball league in the world.
With the G League Team Ignite, Green averaged 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 steals in 15 games and led the team to an 8-7 record, enough for them to reach the playoffs in Orlando bubble.
Team Ignite, however, suffered a 127-102 loss to Raptors 905 but Green still put up a performance to remember with 30 points, seven rebounds, five rebounds, and three steals.
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According to Givony, his sources said Green "has a strong desire to be the No. 1 pick" especially after hosting the Detroit Pistons for a workout session in Southern California and then going to Detroit for another visit.
The Pistons, meanwhile, are expected to get another prized prospect in Cade Cunningham as the first team to select in the draft.
"He'd (Green) be happy to go second, though, if that doesn't materialize, and most NBA teams expect that to be the case -- with some going as far as to describe that as being close to a lock. It doesn't help that the Rockets have been stonewalled in their attempts to bring in Evan Mobley and Jalen Suggs for private workouts," assessed Givony.
"Houston is casting a wide net in an attempt to capture as much player data for future transactions as possible, something that has been met with a mixed reaction in the industry."