As one of the nation’s top high school prospects, Jalen Green made headlines when he announced his plans to forgo the college route. Instead, he decided to turn professional in the NBA G League.

When asked to speak out on the relatively unique path he had chosen, Green noted that he was nervous and excited. Most importantly, however, he felt like a trailblazer and a leader.

“That’s really been my thing, like going through high school, being different and creating a path for myself,” Jalen Green said of his move to the G League.

The 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard further emphasized that basketball had “levels,” and that any transition is going to be hard. He then expressed his belief that the professional pathway program made by the NBA will be better for him.

“I’ll be training with pros … I think it will benefit my long-term growth and development and professional success,” Green furthered.

As one of the top recruits, Green has received offers from well-known NCAA teams such as Auburn, Fresno State, Memphis, Oregon and USC before joining the G League.

The front-runner in the 2021 NBA Draft made headlines after opting for the G League’s redesign program, which was first launched in 2018. Per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Green will receive $500,000 as part of the program.

Other 2021 draft prospects such as Daishen Nix and Isaiah Todd followed Green to join the league’s pathway program. Each will reportedly receive salaries ranging from $250,000 to $300,000. In contrast, per ESPN, the NCAA only recently proposed to modernize their rules, allowing student-athletes to sign endorsement contracts and receive other various payments.

According to ESPN, the NBA G League’s program will last around a year and will include professional coaching, training, and exhibition games against G League and foreign teams.