Tag: Houston Rockets

Rockets coach Ime Udoka applauds Amen Thompson’s off-ball growth

Rockets coach Ime Udoka on where Amen Thompson improved as a rookie: “Understanding how to impact the game without the ball in his hands.”

As the No. 4 draft pick of the NBA’s 2023 first round, Amen Thompson joined the Rockets last year as Houston’s point guard of the future. Eventually, that could still be the case.

But as a rookie on a team with veteran Fred VanVleet at point guard, head coach Ime Udoka found different ways to utilize his athletic 6-foot-7 prospect, including a number of off-ball roles.

With considerable value as a rebounder and defender, Thompson quickly showed off his versatility, and that became more important once starting center Alperen Sengun went down with a season-ending leg injury in March. Sengun’s absence opened up a starting role in the frontcourt, and Thompson seized the opportunity.

In a new interview with Vanessa Richardson of Space City Home Network (SCHN), the team’s regional television broadcast partner, Udoka was asked about where Thompson progressed as a rookie:

Udoka responded:

Understanding how to impact the game without the ball in his hands.

He’s a guy that’s been the fastest guy, the most athletic guy in the gym for most of his life. He has a really good feel for the game, as far as being a point guard and the passing ability.

For him, it was, ‘Yeah, you’re starting now, Alpi is out. How can you do some things when you don’t have the ball in your hands?’

Even before Alpi went out, he was playing in the dunker spot, and obviously his athleticism and size down there … he was working well off Alpi. Now, Alpi goes out, and he’s setting more screens, and he’s doing some different things than he’s ever had to do in his life.

For him, he took every challenge and accepted it. He was a sponge, trying to learn as he went. The biggest sign of growth is that it took him one or two times to do something for the first time, and then it was on to the next.

Those things will all add to his repertoire going forward. He was great with the ball in his hands, and we want him to push… every opportunity he gets off the glass. But when he can get on the glass, he can get offensive rebounds, he can impact the game as the screener, and all the other things. It’ll open up his whole game, moving forward.

In 17 games as a frontcourt starter following Sengun’s injury, Thompson averaged 13.9 points (58.6% FG), 9.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 29.6 minutes per game. He quickly became one of Houston’s most valuable and versatile defenders, as well.

The complete Udoka interview can be viewed as part of SCHN’s latest “Rockets All Access” program to wrap up the 2023-24 season. It airs for the first time on Friday night (April 26) at 7 p.m. Central, and it will be reshown several times over the coming days.

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Rockets GM Rafael Stone explains how young players can be more complementary

Rafael Stone on the fit of Houston’s young core: “The better you become, and the stronger your weaknesses are, the less you need somebody else to compensate.”

Citing their different positions, the Rockets have expressed confidence in the long-term fit of Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun. The same goes for other members of Houston’s emerging young core.

Yet, general manager Rafael Stone acknowledges that blending different playing styles together isn’t always easy.

The key, as he sees it, is to minimize weaknesses. In a new interview with Vanessa Richardson of Space City Home Network (SCHN), the team’s regional television broadcast partner, Stone was asked about the his views of the Green-Sengun pairing. Among his comments:

I do think it’s incumbent upon both of them to improve. The better they get individually, the more they’ll be able to help one another out, and make up for the other’s weaknesses.

No player in the NBA is perfect. Nobody has all strengths and no weaknesses. The better you become, and the stronger your weaknesses are, the less you need somebody else to compensate for them… and the more you can compensate for others.

For all our young guys, the better they get, the easier it will be for them to play with each other, and with all their other teammates. That’s how I look at it.

The complete interview can be viewed as part of SCHN’s latest “Rockets All Access” program to wrap up the 2023-24 season. It will air for the first time on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. Central, and it will then be re-broadcast several different times over the coming days.

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Podcast: Grading Jalen Green’s third season with the Houston Rockets

Are Jalen Green’s strong numbers in the second half of the 2023-24 season a sign of what’s to come? Today’s Locked on Rockets podcast explores.

In his third NBA season, Jalen Green got off to a slow start for the 2023-24 Houston Rockets. But he had an electric finish.

Over his last 40 games, Green averaged 22.3 points (44.4% FG, 34.2% on 3-pointers), 5.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. His true-shooting percentage was 56%, and the Rockets were plus-2.1 as a team with Green on the court. Houston went 21-19 in those games, which would be good for a 43-win pace over a full season.

In a newly released podcast, credentialed media members Jackson Gatlin and Ben DuBose review the highs and lows of Green’s season, along with initial thoughts on a pivotal offseason ahead (including factors to consider related to a potential contract extension or trade).

Thursday’s “Locked on Rockets” episode can be listened to via Apple, Google, Spotify, Castbox and virtually all major podcast distributors. It can also be watched on YouTube (see embed below).

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Ime Udoka gradually adding more layers of offense to Rockets

Ime Udoka: “We’re trying to build this foundation to get our IQ up and don’t want to get too complicated offensively, at times. I think you’ll see some improvement.”

Before the NBA’s 2024 All-Star break, the Houston Rockets ranked No. 23 among 30 teams in offensive rating, No. 17 in pace and No. 15 in 3-point attempts per game. After the break, that changed to No. 15 on offense, No. 7 in pace, and No. 2 in 3-point volume.

With a first-year head coach in Ime Udoka and a relatively young roster with several developing prospects, the Rockets (41-41) were careful not to try installing too much too soon.

But as the year progressed, Houston installed more layers to its offense, and Udoka said at the team’s recent end-of-season press conference that he anticipates that continuing into 2024-25.

Among Udoka’s comments:

We had success with pace, 3-point shots … and some different guys being offensive rebounders. We emphasized that after the All-Star break. We wanted to lay the foundation (first). It’s a balance when you want to go from 29th in turnovers (last season) to top five, or wherever we ended (tied for No. 6).

Even with Alperen (Sengun) out there, we increased (pace) after the All-Star break, so it wasn’t only because he was out. We’ll do some of those things better. I kept it pretty vanilla as far as ATOs (after-timeout plays) and draw-ups.

We’re trying to build this foundation to get our IQ up and don’t want to get too complicated offensively, at times. I think you’ll see some improvement.

Full video of Udoka’s press conference is available below. With Udoka leading the charge, the Rockets plan to work collaboratively this offseason and well in advance of 2024-25 training camp. That could enable the addition of more layers to the playbook next season.

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Tyrese Maxey beats out Alperen Sengun for NBA’s Most Improved Player award

76ers guard Tyrese Maxey beat out Rockets center Alperen Sengun and Bulls guard Coby White in voting for the NBA’s 2023-24 Most Improved Player award.

Alperen Sengun was one of three finalists for the NBA’s 2023-24 Most Improved Player award, joining Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey and Chicago Bulls guard Coby White.

But as announced Tuesday, the third-year Houston Rockets center was not the award’s winner. That honor went to Maxey, whose Sixers (47-35) are participating in the 2024 playoffs.

Sengun’s season ended prematurely on March 10, when he suffered a severe ankle sprain. Between his ensuing 18-game absence and Houston (41-41) missing postseason play in the Western Conference, that made it tough for Sengun to earn an outright win — particularly versus Maxey, whose team had a higher profile.

Nonetheless, it was still an outstanding season for the 21-year-old Turkish big man, who remains one of the organizational focal points for the Rockets as they move forward. On a per-game average basis, Sengun led Houston in scoring (21.1 points) and rebounds (9.3) while shooting 53.7%, a team-high among rotation players.

Sengun will again slide in as Houston’s starting center when 2024-25 training camps open in late September or early October.

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After tiebreaker draws, Rockets learn probable outcome of 2024 second-round draft pick

Houston owns Golden State’s 2024 second-round pick, and it will likely end up second among a three-team tiebreaker also involving the Heat and Kings.

The Rockets are very likely to own the No. 44 pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft, which was determined by a series of random-draw tiebreakers conducted Monday by the league office.

The Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings finished with matching 46-36 records this season. In the first round, these teams will be in the No. 13 through No. 15 slots in the order. In the second round, they were  tied at No. 43 through No. 45.

Because Miami advanced to the playoffs and the other two did not, the Heat were placed last in the first-round order. Then, the Kings won their tiebreaker draw versus the Warriors, putting Sacramento in the No. 13 odds slot and Golden State at No. 14.

The Warriors have an extremely small possibility (3.4%) of winning one of the top-four lottery picks and potentially finishing ahead of Sacramento, but that is a highly unlikely scenario.

Barring other changes, the order will be flipped in the second round. That would keep the Warriors in the middle, and Houston owns that pick as part of the Clint Capela-Robert Covington trade involving the Hawks, Minnesota and Denver in February 2020. Atlanta had acquired that pick in a separate deal with the Warriors.

Houston will also have at least one first-round draft pick (via Brooklyn) and has a small chance of retaining its own, as well. However, the specifics of those picks will not be determined until after the May 12 draft lottery, which will sort out those initial 14 slots.

The first round of the 2024 NBA draft will take place on June 26, while the second will be held on the ensuing day, June 27. Both rounds typically feature 30 selections, with one originally allotted (prior to any trades) to each of the league’s 30 franchises.

However, the 2024 second round features only 28 selections, since Phoenix and Philadelphia each lost their pick due to league sanctions. Both were penalized for premature free agency discussions.

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Rockets star Alperen Sengun drives increased NBA interest in Turkey

Alperen Sengun’s breakout 2023-24 season with the Rockets led to a spike in NBA interest from Turkey, according to the league’s data.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced Monday that its  2023-24 regular season delivered record-breaking engagement in Europe and the Middle East across the NBA App, NBA League Pass, and the league’s 18 localized social media accounts in the region.

Complete details are available in the league’s announcement.

As it pertains to the Rockets, the NBA included some interesting data:

Driven by Alperen Sengun’s breakout season for the Houston Rockets, Turkey ranks third among followers of @NBA on X [formerly Twitter], behind only the United States and the Philippines. NBA League Pass subscriptions in Turkey increased by 41% year-over-year.

Just 21 years old, Sengun led an improved Houston team in scoring (21.1 points) and rebounds (9.3) during the 2023-24 season, all while shooting a team-high 53.7% among rotation players.

The success of the Turkish big man, who drew All-Star consideration in January, played a key role in Houston registering a league-leading improvement of 19 wins (22-60 to 41-41) relative to the prior season. He’s a finalist for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award and is eligible for a contract extension this offseason.

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Ime Udoka emphasizing offseason development, togetherness for Rockets

“It’s not just five months of being away from things we established this year,” Ime Udoka says of Houston’s offseason priorities.

The 2023-24 NBA season is over for the young and improving Houston Rockets (41-41), but that doesn’t mean their work is on pause until 2024-25 training camp starts in late September or early October.

In comments from last week’s end-of-year press conference, head coach Ime Udoka made it clear that offseason work is a vital part of the path forward. And he’ll have an active role in leading that.

Among Udoka’s comments:

Seems like a good number [of players] will be here [in Houston].

It’s a big emphasis for me and my staff to go see our guys. Get your time off, and be right back at it [to find] how we can improve. Do film sessions.

It’s not just five months of being away from things we established this year. It’s important to get your hands on your guys throughout the offseason and build that reputation and relationship with those guys… to get out and see them. We might be out in Turkey at some point [to visit Alperen Sengun], and everywhere else in between. I’ll catch guys all over.

Complete video of Udoka’s remarks can be viewed below.

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Anonymous player poll: Steven Adams near top among NBA’s toughest players

“He knows all the MMA stuff, and he can get you in a chokehold real quick,” one current NBA player says of Steven Adams. “He’ll be nice with it, but he’ll choke you out.”

Though he’s officially been with the Houston Rockets since early February, veteran center Steven Adams won’t suit up for the team until this fall. He missed the entire 2023-24 NBA season after undergoing surgery for a lingering knee injury last October.

But when the 30-year-old does return, he’ll bring quite a reputation with him. In The Athletic’s latest anonymous player poll, Adams finished second (16.8%) in the league on the question of “Which NBA player would you least like to fight?,” trailing only Indiana’s James Johnson (53.6%). In all, 125 current players answered the question.

“He knows all the MMA [mixed martial arts] stuff, and he can get you in a chokehold real quick,” one Adams voter said, as relayed by Sam Amick and Josh Robbins of The Athletic. “He’ll be nice with it, but he’ll choke you out and be like, ‘It’s okay, buddy.’”

Veteran center Boban Marjanovic, who played the last two seasons in Houston, also received a few votes (2.4%) on the same question.

The complete poll can be read here. As for Adams and the Rockets, he’s currently slated to be the backup center to Alperen Sengun — and a defensive complement — for the 2024-25 season.

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Rockets star Alperen Sengun named Most Improved Player finalist by NBA

Houston’s Alperen Sengun, Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey, and Chicago’s Coby White are the NBA’s Most Improved Player finalists this season.

Despite his 2023-24 season ending early due to a March 10 ankle injury, third-year center Alperen Sengun showed enough during the preceding 63 games with the Houston Rockets to be one of three finalists for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.

On a per-game average basis, the 21-year-old Turkish big man led the Rockets in scoring (21.1 points) and rebounds (9.3) while shooting 53.7%, a team-high among rotation players.

That was enough for Sengun to earn All-Star consideration earlier this year, and it makes him a finalists for one of the league’s prestigious annual awards. Other finalists are Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey and Chicago Bulls guard Coby White.

The NBA’s latest criteria calls for players to participate in at least 65 games to be eligible for its awards. However, ESPN’s Kevin Pelton recently noted a potential exception to that rule:

Sengun will only be eligible if an independent doctor rules he will be unable to play through May 31 due to the injury that ended his regular season two games shy of the 65-game minimum.

It appears that was the case. The winners of the awards will be announced at a later date during the league’s 2024 playoffs.

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