The choice between Jalen Green and Evan Mobley in the 2021 draft was a franchise-defining decision for the Houston Rockets. Nearly five years later, as Mobley has blossomed into an All-NBA star and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, while Green continues to battle inconsistency, the question of the “road not taken” resurfaces. Did the Rockets make a mistake betting on pure scoring upside over a complete, two-way cornerstone?
In 2021, holding the No. 2 pick, the Rockets selected Jalen Green—a born scorer envisioned as the heir to James Harden. Meanwhile, Evan Mobley (picked 3rd) has followed a trajectory of elite growth, amassing an impressive personal trophy case: an All-Star selection, an All-NBA Team nod, two All-Defensive Team honors, and crucially, the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year award.
The contrast was starkest in the 2025 playoffs. While Mobley shone as a complete force, Jalen Green’s volatility proved costly: three games in double-figures led to three wins, but four single-digit scoring games resulted in four losses, including the decisive Game 7.
However, revisiting this pick without context is unfair. In that same 2021 draft, the Rockets also secured Alperen Sengun later in the first round. Today, Sengun has developed into an all-around center, and a compelling argument can be made that he is “at worst just as good as Mobley (if not better)” in terms of overall impact.
In retrospect, the Rockets’ selection of Jalen Green was a gamble on pure offensive ceiling, while Evan Mobley represented the safety of a complete two-way foundation. Although Mobley currently holds the edge in individual accolades, the Rockets’ simultaneous acquisition of Alperen Sengun—a high-quality “clone” at the big man position—has mitigated potential regret. The lesson from 2021 may not be about who they chose, but about recognizing that in the modern NBA, a versatile defensive anchor like Mobley can be a more valuable foundational piece than an explosive yet inconsistent scoring talent.