Rockets: Why you shouldn't judge Jalen Green for grill purchase

You likely already know that Houston Rockets rookie guard Jalen Green has a larger-than-life personality, as he's certainly put it on display several times already, before ever playing an actual NBA game. Green has Deion Sanders' swag, Michael Jordan's confidence, and Russell Westbrook's trailblazing ability (what a combination that is).

Simply put, Green's bravado is like none other, and especially for someone who hasn't touched the floor yet. On Friday, Green went viral (which he's done a time or two before) for purchasing an iced-out grill, which Houstonians can certainly appreciate, as it's been ingrained in the city's culture for decades now.

Some of the takes that began to circulate social media were quite ill-advised, to put it politely. Many began to use Green's grill as proof of how he "has his focus on the wrong things."

Why you shouldn't judge Houston Rockets' Jalen Green for grill purchase

For starters, it's kind of silly to judge an athlete (or anyone really) based on something they purchase away from the playing surface, as they don't have to spend their hard-earned money to our liking. If we are honest, at 19-years-of-age, we likely bought things against the better judgment of those who were older and more responsible than us.

In fact, many of us still purchase things that we knowingly don't need or have any use for as older adults now (you know who you are), but the fact of the matter is it's your money. You're free to do whatever you want with it, because you've worked for it.

Sure, others will always tell you that you shouldn't waste your money on whatever your vice is, but again, it's your money. Ditto for Green, who we know has a penchant for bling and ice, based on the encrusted diamonds that he was donning on draft night. 

There were even some who suggested that Detroit Pistons rookie Cade Cunningham is more mature, strictly on the basis of Green's iced-out grill. But the problem with this (aside from how dense that is) is that Cunningham has also posted photos of himself wearing iced-out jewelry. And again, there isn't anything wrong with that, in fact we should embrace the fact that these are teenage kids who don't have to meet out definitions of maturity. 

The other popular school of thought following Green's purchase was the suggestion that he needs a financial advisor, which implies that he doesn't currently have one. Granted, Green should absolutely be surrounded by people who can ensure that he maximizes his earnings and sets himself up for the future.

Financial literacy is of the utmost importance, not only for millionaire athletes, but also for the working class. But even if Green had an accountant (which again, he probably does), such a person would work for Green, and not the other way around.

In other words, they wouldn't be able to tell him what he could or couldn't purchase, but would instead be tasked with advising him on the best possible utilization of his funds. But let's not act like Green purchasing the grill is going to prevent him from identifying his next meal, because he certainly has more than enough money to live comfortably, regardless.

Keep in mind that he has an endorsement deal with Adidas, and he also made in excess of $500,000 in 2020-21, as a member of the G-League Ignite. So let's hold off on judging teenagers based on how they spend their money, and instead focus on how we spend our own.