Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green is a student of the game of basketball, having studied great players such as Michael Jordan and the late Kobe Bryant.
But as he prepares to make his first playoff appearance against the Golden State Warriors at Toyota Center on Sunday, he is taking a page out of the book of another longtime NBA superstar.
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To block out all the noise and opinions from fans and analysts, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has often chosen to take a social-media break during the playoffs. Green decided to follow that same path, as he recently deactivated his Instagram page.
“I tend to go on my social media and go watch highlights and stuff,” Green told reporters after Friday’s practice. “That’s not something I’m trying to be focused on during the playoffs. This is my first time being in this situation, and I want to be fully present and fully locked in for it. I want to take advantage of the moment and be myself. Be free and free-minded.”
Green, the Rockets’ No. 2 overall selection in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft, has said that winning is his primary focus. He will do whatever it takes to make that happen, and removing himself from distractions like social media shows just how serious Green is about going on a postseason run in 2025.
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With Green leading the team in scoring, the 2024-25 Rockets (52-30, No. 2 in the Western Conference) have returned to the playoffs for the first time in five years. That stretch included three years of a rebuilding process that prioritized the development of Green and center Alperen Sengun as cornerstones for the future.
Sunday’s Game 1 between the Rockets and the West’s No. 7 seed, the rival Golden State Warriors (48-34), tips off at 8:30 p.m. Central.
More: ESPN projects three Rockets among 50 most impactful players of 2025 NBA playoffs
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: ‘Fully present’: Jalen Green taking social-media break for playoff run
