The Houston Rockets have officially clinched a playoff berth for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
The Rockets have been one of the most surprising teams in the NBA this season. Labeled as a bottom feeder a few seasons ago, they have transformed into one of the top teams in the Western Conference.
After trading superstar franchise player James Harden midway through the 2020-21 season, Houston struggled to find an identity. Harden had been the man in Houston for nine seasons and it seemed the Rockets were not prepared for life after him.
Houston had no option but to start fresh and find a new face for their franchise.
In the 2021 draft, the Rockets selected Jalen Green, a young guard from the NBA G-League Ignite. Houston also traded for the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 16th pick, center Alperen Sengun.
Green impressed in his rookie season. He averaged 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists. He finished fourth place in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting.
Sengun also had himself a solid season. He averaged 9.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
Despite impressive seasons from their rookie duo, the Rockets struggled heavily. They finished last in the Western Conference with a 20-62 record.
This disastrous season landed H-Town the 3rd pick in the 2022 draft, where they selected power forward Jabari Smith out of Auburn.
Smith provided Houston with size and versatility on both sides of the floor, which are two areas the Rockets were lacking in. He averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds in his first year.
This young Houston team would experience growing pains as their rise was not immediate. The 2022-23 season saw them only gain 2 more wins, etching a 22-60 record.
The 2023-24 season saw the Rockets’ culture shift drastically.
Houston fired head coach Stephen Silas and brought in Ime Udoka. Udoka previously coached the Boston Celtics, who he had led to the finals just a couple of seasons earlier.
The Rockets freed cap space for the 2023 offseason. This allowed them to sign free agents Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. VanVleet and Brooks brought a much-needed veteran presence to this young team.
In the 2023 draft, the Rockets selected Amen Thompson with the 4th pick and Cam Whitmore with the 20th pick.
Thompson and Whitmore added more energy and athleticism to this developing Houston core.
Under Udoka, the new look Rockets doubled their win total in 2023-24. In the final stretch of the season, they would win 11 straight games.
They would go on to finish 41-41 and as the 11th seed in the west, narrowly missing the play-in.
This was just a prelude to the current season, as the Rockets have picked up right where they left off.
Since his rookie season, Sengun has improved every year. He is currently averaging 19 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. He made the All-Star team for the first time in his career.
Houston sits as the 2nd seed in the Western Conference with a 46-26 record. With the playoffs approaching, the Rockets are looking for a deep run and are ready for take off.
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