Courtesy of Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) of @LockedOnRockets, here are all of Monday’s #Rockets media day interviews from Toyota Center.
HOUSTON — To officially launch team activities for the 2023-24 NBA season, the Rockets hosted their annual media day on Monday, Oct. 2, inside their home arena of Toyota Center.
Each year, media day for NBA teams consists of press conference interviews with each team’s general manager, head coach and numerous players regarding their outlook for the new season.
For the 2023-24 Rockets, this was the first media availability with four recent offseason signings (Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jock Landale and Jeff Green). It also marked the first time general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka took questions from reporters since Kevin Porter Jr.’s arrest.
Courtesy of Jackson Gatlin of Locked on Rockets (YouTube channel), here’s complete video (in sequential order, based on the time of each interview) from Monday’s interview sessions.
On Tuesday, training camp opens at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The preseason begins Tuesday, Oct. 10, with a home game versus Indiana.
Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Kevin Porter Jr. are among many #Rockets who took part in official media day photo shoots at the opening of training camp.
The first game, albeit an exhibition, of the 2022-23 Houston Rockets season took place Sunday, Oct. 2 versus San Antonio.
But for potential rising stars like Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., and beyond, activities actually got started a few days before that. It all began with the Sept. 26 media day at Toyota Center, where the main event consisted of players throughout the roster responding to questions about the new season.
Media day, however, also consists of various other photography and video shoots. Some are taken by internal team sources and are used by the team in promotions throughout the season, while others are from professional photographers who can license them for use across all sorts of potential media content related to the Rockets.
From 2022-23 media day, here’s a look at images of various Rockets players captured by professional photographers from USA TODAY Sports, Getty Images, and the Associated Press.
“I can bring a lot of things,” veteran big man Boban Marjanovic says of his potential value to the Rockets. “Not just basketball, but in the locker room, too.”
Listed at 7-foot-4 and 290 pounds, newly acquired veteran center Boban Marjanovic is easily the largest player on the Houston Rockets and one of the biggest in the entire NBA. Unfortunately, he has seldom been a consistent rotation player, since that enormous body size makes him a defensive liability in many speed-based matchups.
But even if Marjanovic is only a part-time, situational player, he can still provide value in other areas. That value was on full display during a jovial interview at Monday’s media day in Houston, which kicked off training camp for the 2022-23 Rockets.
“I’m capable to play and score double-doubles every night,” he said. “But it’s about the team. It’s not about one person. It’s about everybody to get better. You never know when it’s your time coming, and guys need to know (that) you step up when it’s your opportunity.”
“I can bring a lot of things,” Marjanovic said of his value to the Rockets. “Not just basketball, but in the locker room, too.”
Though Marjanovic was traded from a Western Conference contender to a rebuilding team as part of the deal sending Christian Wood to Dallas, the 34-year-old had no frustration with the outcome.
“I’m happy because I’m here, and I think it will be an amazing, amazing year for us,” he said. “It’s about trying to be the best human being it is possible to be, to help my teammates, to support them.”
Marjanovic had rave reviews for many of his new teammates and coaches with the Rockets, who begin training camp on Tuesday.
“I follow them; I know them,” Marjanovic said. “They’re really talented. They’re really good. They’re a good group of people. They love to work out. They love to stay extra, extra hours in the gym. I see that. This is what it’s all about. They’re really nice kids, by the way. This makes me happy. We have everybody that can work together and make the best it possibly can be.”
“The guys fly all around,” he added. “They’re jumping from the floor to the roof. They’re really good and super exciting.”
The veteran added specifics on head coach Stephen Silas, who he worked with in Dallas, and second-year center Alperen Sengun, who, like Marjanovic, is a big man from Eastern Europe.
On Silas, Marjanovic said:
He is like the nicest human being ever. I had a great experience with him. When he came here and he moved (from his assistant position in Dallas), everybody was so sad because we lost so much; great person, great heart, basketball knowledge of everything. Of course, we wished him best. Now, I’m here with him and I’m happy. It’s really cool to be around him.
Regarding Sengun, who is poised to start in front of Marjanovic at center, the Serbian veteran pointed to the young prospect’s time with Besiktas Icrypex of the Turkish Super League, where Sengun was named MVP during 2020-21 season. Marjanovic elaborated:
Nobody could stop him. He is an amazing player, good guy. He’ll be better, better every single moment, every single game, every single day.
“These guys here have great heart, great soul,” Marjanovic concluded. “To be around them, it’s a blessing.”
KJ Martin on whether he is part of the Rockets’ future: “I’m just here to do my job. Everything else is between upper management and my agents.”
In search of more playing time entering his third NBA season, reserve forward KJ Martin reportedly approached the Houston Rockets during the 2022 offseason about a potential trade elsewhere.
As of late September, it hasn’t happened. But with the Rockets having added two highly touted first-round rookie forwards in the 2022 draft, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, the underlying calculus certainly hasn’t changed. If anything, the path to rotation minutes for the 21-year-old is even more difficult.
At Monday’s media day, which kicks off the Rockets’ 2022-23 training camp, Martin reported to camp with his teammates and was asked whether he sees his long-term future in Houston.
His answer did not provide much clarity:
“I’m just here to do my job,” Martin said. “Everything else is between upper management and my agents. This summer, my goal was to get better and try to make the team better. I feel like I got better.”
With Martin under contract at a relatively cheap rate for two more seasons, the Rockets understandably aren’t desperate to trade an athletic forward who has averaged 9 points (52.4% FG, 36.0% on 3-pointers) and 3.8 rebounds in 22 minutes per game over two seasons. It would require solid value to general manager Rafael Stone.
But for a player entering his third NBA season, reduced minutes aren’t ideal. Whether the two sides can find a happy medium, or if a trade ultimately materializes, is a storyline worth monitoring as the 2022-23 regular season approaches.
Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Rafael Stone, and Stephen Silas are among those taking the podium at Toyota Center for Monday’s Rockets media day, which kicks off training camp.
HOUSTON — General manager Rafael Stone, head coach Stephen Silas and select players from the 2022-23 Rockets are meeting with media members Monday at Toyota Center to preview the upcoming season, which begins with the Sunday, Oct. 2 preseason opener.
The rebuilding Rockets remain one of the NBA’s youngest teams, and they finished with the league’s worst record (20-62) last season. Yet, there were clear signs of development and growth from prospects such as Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., and Alperen Sengun.
This offseason, Houston reinforced its youth movement with three first-round picks in the 2022 NBA draft, led by Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr. at No. 3 overall. Later on, LSU forward Tari Eason (No. 17) and Kentucky guard TyTy Washington (No. 29) joined the fray.
Scroll on for updates from all of Monday’s interviews. With the spotlight on those prized prospects, Houston’s training camp begins Tuesday in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and continues there for three days before shifting back to Houston to prepare for exhibition games. The 2022-23 regular season will begin on Wednesday, Oct. 19.
The Rockets will hold their annual media day on Monday, Sept. 26 in Houston before traveling to Lake Charles, Louisiana, for training camp.
To kick off activities for the 2022-23 NBA season, the Rockets will hold their annual media day on Monday, Sept. 26, at the Toyota Center in downtown Houston.
Media day generally consists of press conference interviews with the franchise’s general manager, head coach and numerous players regarding their outlook for the new season. After being fully virtual in 2020 and partially virtual in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, media day will be a completely in-person affair in 2022.
According to the team’s announcement to media, interviews will be with general manager Rafael Stone, head coach Stephen Silas and select players (who will be named shortly before the event).
The team typically live streams the event for fans to watch, though details for that option have not yet been released by the Rockets.
After media day, training camp will be held in Lake Charles, Louisiana, from Tuesday, Sept. 27 through Thursday, Sept. 29, similar to out-of-town camp stints in previous years — such as when the Rockets went to Galveston, Texas, a year ago. The general idea is a non-traditional location can serve as a team bonding experience, both during practice hours and while away from the court.
Training camp will be held at McNeese State University’s Legacy Center, formerly known as the Health and Human Performance Education Complex. The Rockets used that facility for training camp in 2018, shortly before its official opening.
Practices will resume at Toyota Center on Saturday, Oct. 1, with the 2022-23 preseason starting at home the next day.
Houston’s interviews included Rafael Stone, Stephen Silas, Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., Christian Wood and John Wall. Hear from them here.
For the first time in two years, the Rockets held a traditional in-person media day on Monday at The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston. The luxury retreat is owned by team owner Tilman Fertitta.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly all media activities were virtual in the weeks leading up to the 2020-21 season. But that policy has changed for the 2021-22 campaign, and the Sept. 27 event was an opportunity for vaccinated media members to ask questions to veteran players like Christian Wood, Kevin Porter Jr., John Wall, Eric Gordon, Daniel Theis, Danuel House Jr., Jae’Sean Tate, and David Nwaba.
General manager Rafael Stone and head coach Stephen Silas also spoke on Monday, as did rookies Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun.
Scroll down for embedded videos of individual interview sessions, and check out the related links for more in-depth print coverage.
To kick off the 2021-22 season, Rockets media day will be held on Sept. 27 in Houston, with training camp opening Sept. 28 in Galveston.
To kick off activities for the 2021-22 NBA year, the Rockets will hold their annual media day on Monday, Sept. 27 in Houston.
Media day generally consists of press conference interviews with the franchise’s general manager, head coach, and numerous players regarding their outlook for the new season. After being fully virtual in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, media day is returning to an in-person format in 2021, though a virtual option will also be available.
According to the team’s announcement to media, interviews will include general manager Rafael Stone, head coach Stephen Silas, and select players (who will be named shortly before the event).
The team typically live streams the event for fans to watch, though details for that option have yet to be released by the Rockets.
#Rockets Media Day is officially Monday, Sept. 27 starting at 11. Training camp starts the next day in Galveston; will return to Toyota Center the following week (when preseason starts).
After media day, taining camp will be held in Galveston, Texas from Tuesday, Sept. 28 through Saturday, Oct. 2, similar to out-of-town camp stints in previous years — like when the Rockets went to Lake Charles, Louisiana in 2018. Galveston is located on the Gulf of Mexico shoreline, approximately 50 miles southeast of downtown Houston. The general idea is that a non-traditional location can serve as a team bonding experience, both during practice hours and while away from the court.
Practices will resume at Toyota Center beginning on Monday, Oct. 4, with the 2021-22 preseason starting at home the next day.
Houston’s recent acquisition of John Wall was a popular topic of discussion in Thursday’s chat with Stephen Silas and DeMarcus Cousins.
Less than 24 hours after the blockbuster trade involving John Wall and a future draft pick for Russell Westbrook, members of the Houston Rockets met with the media on Thursday afternoon from training camp.
Thursday’s speakers were new head coach Stephen Silas and recent signing DeMarcus Cousins. For Silas, it was his first availability to reporters since the team’s flurry of offseason moves — which culminated with the Westbrook-for-Wall swap on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Cousins discussed not only his own decision to join the Rockets, but also his friendship with Wall after playing with the 6-foot-4 guard at the University of Kentucky more than a decade ago.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” said Cousins, who called Wall a “brother for life” in his comments about playing with Wall in Houston. “This is something that me and him have planned and dreamed about for a long time.”
See below for a social media compilation of the most important takeaways from Thursday’s media session at Toyota Center.
DeMarcus Cousins on how he feels, mentally and physically: "Incredible. My body is in a great place, my mind is in a great place." #Rocketspic.twitter.com/P9QxdbWc7N
Cousins on reuniting with Wall: "It's an incredible feeling. This is something that me and him have planned and dreamed about for a long time." https://t.co/ygQqIJUWMS
Cousins spoke to Christian Wood already about their fit, says he has some of the same intangibles as Anthony Davis. Also believes he can be First Team All-NBA.
Cousins: "It's been a tough road but I'm happy with where I'm at… It is a fresh start. I haven't played a full season in almost two years. Like I said, it's just about putting this plan in place and following through with it."
DeMarcus Cousins on playing with John Wall: "We're super excited. There's obviously chemistry between us from our college days…That's one of my better friends in the NBA."
DeMarcus Cousins on John Wall & James Harden teammates: “I think it can work.I honestly do.I think John will make James’ job easier.He doesn’t have to handle the ball &make plays for everybody as much or at the rate he’s done in the past.He won’t be as gassed at the end of games”
Silas: "I haven't spoken to James since the trade. To be honest with you, when stuff like this kind of happens and there's a little indecision, I take a step back and allow the guy some space."
"If it weren't for Russell Westbrook, I probably wouldn't have this job. The way he vouched for me is the first thing I thought about when this trade was made. " – #Rockets HC Stephen Silas
Stephen Silas says the #Rockets should have their entire roster available at Toyota Center by Sunday, which is when group work begins at training camp.
Silas on Harden and Wall: "They fit very well. Most of the stuff I wrote on my board stayed up there because they really fit the way I want to play. To have John Wall pushing the ball up the floor… it accentuates to play the way I want to play."
He said the second thing he thought of is how dynamic John Wall has been in his career and the excitement of the possibilities now adding him. #Rockets
Silas: "Now that roster is set, there is more excitement than anything else. There were moments you don't really know what's going on during … free agency and roster flux. You're looking around trying to figure everything out. Now… seems like everybody's in a positive place."
Stephen Silas on Danuel House Jr. and the incident: "I wasn't really privy to everything that happened. It was very much second-hand info that I received, when it came to his situation."
"For me, it's clean slate. We're going to build a relationship based on today and tomorrow."
For all three players, it was their first media availability since the 2019-20 season. In the case of House, it represents his first time to answer questions from reporters regarding the controversial incident that led to his early dismissal from the NBA “bubble” and a premature playoff exit.
See below for the highlights of Wednesday’s discussion:
Eric Gordon: "Our core guys are still here, and I still have high expectations going into the season. … No matter what all the outside noise is, when there's a game, I feel like we're going to be ready to play." #Rocketspic.twitter.com/EPCV8CpqNQ
#Rockets guard Eric Gordon on his health: "Much better than last year."
"Any time you have surgery during the year, it's tough. I was trying to rush back. Last year was just a tough year for me. I definitely expect better."
Eric Gordon on what Stephen Silas has planned offensively for the Rockets next season: "He definitely expects a lot of ball movement. He wants to see everyone do well… He wants to maximize everyone on this team."
Eric Gordon stressed ball movement and said it's worked out well for them in the past: "We're impossible to stop when the ball is moving and everything is flowing."
Eric Gordon on the whether Danuel House Jr. needs to rebuild trust in the locker room: "No. He just needs to play basketball. … He's just got to come out and play. I wouldn't say that he needs to worry about anything."
Danuel House Jr. leads off by apologizing to the team, organization, and owner for "the mishap" at the NBA bubble. Says he sincerely apologizes to the fans, as well, if you feel that he let you down. #Rockets
House started with a statement: "First off, I would like to start by apologizing to my team, the organization and the owner…. I'd like to deeply apologize to the fans also if you feel I let you down."
Other players and coaches are expected to be made available by the team later in the week. For now, training camp activities are all on an individual basis, with players undergoing a period of daily COVID-19 testing before they are allowed to work in close proximity with teammates.
Group work will begin on Sunday, Dec. 6, with all practices taking place at the team’s usual home arena of Toyota Center in downtown Houston. Preseason play for the Rockets opens up on Friday, Dec. 11 in Chicago, while the 2020-21 regular season is set to begin on Dec. 23.
