The Divergent Paths: Jalen Green And Josh Christopher's Careers After The Rockets Split

The bond between Jalen Green and Josh Christopher, once the high-flying, charismatic young backcourt duo for the Houston Rockets, has taken a dramatic, divergent turn in the most recent 2025 basketball season. Just months ago, the pair were still linked by their shared draft class, their electric friendship, and a history that stretches back to their high school and AAU days, but the NBA is a business that rarely keeps friends together.

As of late 2025, Jalen Green has transitioned into a new chapter as a key player for the Phoenix Suns following a blockbuster trade, while Josh Christopher has found a new home showcasing his undeniable talent in the NBA G League, dominating for the Sioux Falls Skyforce. This article dives deep into their current, up-to-the-minute career statuses, their biographical profiles, and the persistent curiosity surrounding their unique and often scrutinized friendship.

Jalen Green and Josh Christopher: Complete Biography and Career Profiles

The story of Jalen Green and Josh Christopher is one of parallel paths that eventually split, beginning as close friends and elite prospects who were both first-round picks for the Houston Rockets in 2021.

• The Untouchable Privacy 7 Secrets Of Rachel Mcadams And Jamie Lindens Life Beyond The Red Carpet E820e

Jalen Green (The Scorching Star)

• Full Name: Jalen Romande Green
• Born: February 9, 2002 (Age 23 as of late 2025)
• Hometown: Merced, California
• High School: San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, CA) / Prolific Prep (Napa, CA)
• Pre-NBA Career: NBA G League Ignite (First player to join the inaugural program)
• NBA Draft: 2021, Round 1, Pick 2 (Houston Rockets)
• Current Team (Late 2025): Phoenix Suns
• Key 2024-2025 Season Stats (Rockets): 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.
• Notable 2025 Event: Signed a three-year, $106 million rookie contract extension with the Rockets, then was traded to the Phoenix Suns shortly after.

Josh Christopher (The G League Dynamo)

• Full Name: Joshua Evan Christopher
• Born: December 8, 2001 (Age 23 as of late 2025)
• Hometown: Carson, California
• High School: Mayfair High School (Lakewood, CA)
• College: Arizona State University (ASU)
• NBA Draft: 2021, Round 1, Pick 24 (Houston Rockets)
• Current Team (2025-2026): Sioux Falls Skyforce (Miami Heat G League affiliate)
• Key 2025-2026 Season Stats (Skyforce): Averaging an impressive 22.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game early in the G League season.
• Career Trajectory Post-Rockets: Traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023, waived, and then signed with the Miami Heat organization, joining their G League affiliate for the 2025-2026 campaign.

The Blockbuster Trade and the Emotional Goodbye: Green's New Chapter

The biggest and freshest news linking the two players is the fact that their time as teammates is definitively over. Jalen Green's departure from the Houston Rockets in mid-2025 was a major event that reshaped the NBA landscape.

Despite signing a significant three-year, $106 million rookie contract extension, a move that signaled the Rockets' long-term faith in their former second overall pick, Green was unexpectedly included in a multi-player deal that sent him to the Phoenix Suns to join their championship core.

The trade confirmation was followed by Green penning a deeply emotional farewell letter to the city of Houston in *The Players' Tribune*. In the letter, titled "A Few Words From the Heart for H-Town," he expressed gratitude for his time with the Rockets and his mentorship from veterans like Fred VanVleet. He wrote, “H-Town, thank you for the love. For real, thank you.” This public, heartfelt goodbye solidified the end of the Rockets' "Splash Brothers" era and marked Green's transition to a new role as a high-volume scorer for a contender.

• 5 Shocking Facts About Anna Congdon Penn State Sweetheart To Nfl Fiances Social Media Firestorm Cc90e

The move to Phoenix is seen by many analysts as a fresh start, allowing Green to focus purely on scoring and athleticism without the pressure of being the primary franchise cornerstone, a role that now falls more squarely on Alperen Sengun in Houston.

Christopher's G League Dominance: A Path Back to the NBA

While Green is navigating the pressures of a new contract and a new team, Josh Christopher is on a different but equally compelling journey. After being traded from the Rockets to the Grizzlies in 2023 and eventually being waived, Christopher has leveraged his talent to become a standout performer in the G League.

For the 2025-2026 season, Christopher returned to the Miami Heat organization, signing with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. His performance has been nothing short of dominant, immediately putting up 22.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. This level of production is exactly what NBA teams look for in a G League call-up, suggesting he is on the cusp of an NBA return.

• The Facts Of Life Cast Where Are Eastlands Girls Now 2024 Updates 2tx8p

Christopher's time in the G League, including previous stints with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, has allowed him to refine his game, particularly his playmaking and defensive intensity. He is consistently demonstrating the raw athleticism and scoring ability that made him a first-round pick, proving he is too talented to remain outside the NBA for long.

The Viral High School Footage and The Curious Relationship

Beyond their professional careers, a significant source of public curiosity surrounding Jalen Green and Josh Christopher stems from their extremely close personal relationship, which has been labeled as "brotherly."

The duo's friendship became a viral topic on social media due to the circulation of old high school footage that showed the two players engaging in an explicit, suggestive act. This video, which resurfaced years after it was recorded, sparked intense debate and speculation about the nature of their relationship and drew widespread attention from various media personalities and online communities.

It is important to note that the footage was from their high school days and was widely discussed as an act of sexual simulation or a "zesty" situation between two very close friends. While the video is undoubtedly a sensitive and controversial entity in their collective career narrative, the players themselves have maintained that they are like family. They were a formidable duo on the AAU circuit for Vegas Elite and were known for their charisma and electric chemistry, both on and off the court.

The intense scrutiny of their personal lives highlights the unique pressures young, highly-touted athletes face in the social media era. Despite the public discussion, their bond remains an enduring element of their shared history, one that began long before the NBA draft and continues even as their professional careers have taken them to opposite ends of the basketball world.

What the Future Holds for the Former Rockets Duo

The current status of Jalen Green and Josh Christopher paints a clear picture of two highly talented players on dramatically different career trajectories in late 2025.

• Jalen Green's Future: Now a part of the Phoenix Suns, Green is expected to thrive in a more focused scoring role alongside established superstars. His new contract extension, secured by his agents at CAA, ensures his financial stability and future in the league. The biggest question is whether he can translate his raw athleticism into consistent winning contributions.
• Josh Christopher's Future: Christopher's dominant play with the Sioux Falls Skyforce is a strong audition for a return to the NBA. The Miami Heat organization, known for developing talent, is a perfect fit. If he continues to post elite numbers like 22.5 PPG and 6.0 RPG, a guaranteed NBA contract or a mid-season call-up is highly probable.

From the Houston Rockets to the Phoenix Suns and the Miami Heat organization, the paths of Jalen Green and Josh Christopher are no longer intertwined on the same roster. Yet, their shared history—from their high school days to their draft night—will forever link them as one of the most curious and compelling duos of the 2021 NBA Draft class.