Jalen Green’s girlfriend, Draya Michele, was hyped to see his dunk on draft mate Cade Cunningham on Sunday. Green put his rival, Cunningham, on a poster early in the fourth quarter. Amen Thompson picked up the Pistons’ point guard full court and got a steal in Detroit’s half, which set up Green for the emphatic poster.
Michele reposted a highlight of the night on her Instagram story (@drayamichele) with a one-word reaction.
“YEA,” wrote Michele, showing her enthusiasm about her boyfriend’s stellar moment.
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Green and Cunningham were in the same draft class in 2021. The Rockets guard felt he could have been the No. 1 pick that year. However, the Pistons chose Cunningham instead, and Green went second. Their rivalry may have begun even before that.
Green and Cunningham have matched up since high school. Some fans even resurfaced a video of the two during Team USA camp during their high school years, when Cunningham slapped Green on his chin.
Jalen Green vs Cade Cunningham beef is what the NBA needs
pic.twitter.com/df4ViJsOVj— jaycee (@nahitsjaycee) November 11, 2024
The NBA draft order may have only fueled that rivalry. They had some heated moments in their 2021 Summer League matchup when Green blew past Cunningham for a dunk and trash-talked him. Meanwhile, Cunningham had got him before on a crossover.
Cade with the cross and finish vs. Jalen Green 🤭
(via
@NBASummerLeague) pic.twitter.com/FZ6Jy5RQ6D— ESPN (@espn) August 11, 2021
Jalen Green trash-talked Cade Cunningham on Sunday, too. He even got a tech for taunting his counterpart. Meanwhile, Cunningham validated Green’s poster immediately and nodded his head.
Green also had the last laugh in this matchup after the Rockets won 101-99. He’s 2-1 in head-to-head matchups with Cunningham. Leaving the dunk aside, Green had a subpar outing. He produced 15 points, five rebounds and three assists, shooting a measly 35.3%, including 1 of 6 from 3-point range.
On the other hand, despite the loss, Cunningham was the best player on the floor, tallying 26 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, shooting 47.6%.
Jalen Green once cited his baby with Draya Michele as motivation behind stellar play
Jalen Green and his girlfriend, Draya Michele, welcomed a baby girl in May. The couple have battled a lot together after criticism surrounding their age gap. However, the 22-year-old Rockets star and his 40-year-old girlfriend seem unfazed and are still seemingly going strong.
Green even cited his baby with Draya as a reason behind his stellar play on the court after last season’s All-Star break. Green had averaged 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists in that span.
He shot 44.1%, including 36.8% from 3, leading the Rockets to a 17-11 record. They nearly passed the Warriors in the standings to find a play-in tournament spot. The Rockets eventually came up short.
“My family, my baby,” Green said on Mar. 19, 2024.
Green welcomed the baby on May 12, 2024.
Jalen Green’s momentum seems to have carried onto the new season. After signing a unique three-year $100 million extension with the Rockets, Green has averaged a team-high 21 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 10 games, leading the Rockets to a 6-4 record.
