Category: Houston Rockets Blog

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Dillon Brooks goes wild in Rockets win over Kings

Per the Sacramento Bee:

Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks threw up three fingers and stared down the Sacramento bench after hitting a big 3-pointer in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against the Kings. Brooks blew the Kings a kiss moments later after burying another long ball to seal Sacramento’s fate.

Brooks had 26 points and nine rebounds to lead the Rockets to a 107-89 victory over the Kings before a sellout crowd of 18,055 at Toyota Center in Houston. Brooks made 9 of 14 from the field and 2 of 4 from 3-point range, both coming during a decisive stretch late in the fourth quarter.

“(Brooks) got in a rhythm,” Kings guard Davion Mitchell said. “He had a really good game. He hits shots. He got comfortable. He’s a basketball player. We’re all competitive and he hit shots. He’s going to talk trash. If he wasn’t hitting shots, he wouldn’t be doing the same thing, so it’s OK. We’ll live with the results and we’ll see them again.”

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Rockets and Thunder complete Kevin Porter Jr., Victor Oladipo trade

The Houston Rockets have traded guard Kevin Porter Jr. and two future second round picks to Oklahoma City in exchange for guard Victor Oladipo and forward/center Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.

Per the Thunder, Porter Jr. will be “waived immediately.”

Oladipo (6-4, 213) is entering his 11th NBA season with career averages of 16.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.60 steals and 1.6 3-pointers made in 504 games with 397 starts. He appeared in 20 games for the Rockets during 2020-21 prior to being acquired by Miami, where he spent the past two seasons.

The two-time All-Star is one of eight players in NBA history with career averages of at least 16.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.50 spg and 1.50 3FGM joining LaMelo Ball, Stephen Curry, Paul George, James Harden, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard. Oladipo was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2017-18 while also earning All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive First Team honors.

Robinson-Earl (6-9, 240) was the 32nd overall pick by New York in the 2021 NBA Draft before his rights were acquired by Oklahoma City. In two seasons for the Thunder, he appeared in 92 games with 56 starts while averaging 7.2 ppg and 4.9 rpg in 20.7 mpg.

Over the past two seasons, Robinson-Earl was one of eight players who averaged at least 7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 1.0 3FGM in fewer than 21.0 mpg. In 20 games as a starter in 2022-23, he averaged 8.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 1.2 apg along with 1.4 3FGM on 39.7% shooting.

In a related move, the Rockets have waived forward Matthew Mayer.

Rockets sign Reggie Bullock

The Houston Rockets have signed free agent Reggie Bullock, a former 25th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

Bullock has a career record of 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 512 games with 294 starts.

He has averaged 2.1 3-pointers made on 38.8% shooting over the past six seasons.

Bullock spent two seasons with Dallas before being acquired by San Antonio in a three-team trade with Boston.

He started every game for the Mavericks during their run to the Western Conference Finals in 2021-22, averaging 10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.9 3FGM on 39.7% shooting.

Houston Astros and Houston Rockets are acquiring AT&T SportsNet Southwest from Warner Bros. Discovery

The Houston Astros and Houston Rockets are acquiring AT&T SportsNet Southwest from Warner Bros. Discovery, effective September 30, 2023.

The network will re-launch as Space City Home Network (SCHN) on October 3, 2023.

The change will be a seamless transition for fans as they will be able to continue to access Rockets and Astros games on the same channels they currently utilize.

The network will be owned by the Rockets and Astros going forward and will operate as a joint venture of the two organizations. The teams are committed to delivering great game content and programming, while maintaining and enhancing the award-winning quality that has made the network the premium destination for Rockets and Astros fans to watch live broadcasts, behind-the-scenes content, and much more.

“We are excited to partner with the Rockets, and launch the new home for Astros and Rockets coverage with Space City Home Network,” said Giles Kibbe, Astros Senior Vice President, General Counsel. “Together with the Rockets we’ve worked hard to ensure that Space City Home Network will bring you the same Astros and Rockets sports coverage from the faces and voices you know and love. We look forward to this new chapter and remain committed to delivering great broadcasts for the best fans in baseball.”

“We’ve had a strong relationship with the talent and staff at AT&T SportsNet in broadcasting Rockets games over the years and are excited to have that live on as Space City Home Network,” said Rockets President of Business Operations Gretchen Sheirr. “We’ve worked alongside the Astros and network personnel to ensure this will be a smooth changeover for our fans and look forward to the positive impact this collaboration and local ownership will have on our broadcast.”

“We appreciate the collaboration from the Astros and Rockets as we reach an agreement that is in the best interest of all parties, including the fans we all serve,” said Patrick Crumb, President, Regional Sports Networks, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports. “I’d especially like to thank all of our Houston-based colleagues who will continue to passionately showcase both teams through this new venture. We wish the Astros and Rockets much success as they assume ownership of the network.”

Rockets re-sign Boban Marjanovic

The Houston Rockets have re-signed free agent center Boban Marjanović. He was originally acquired via a trade with Dallas on June 24, 2022.

Marjanović (7-4, 286), who is approaching his ninth season, appeared in 31 games for the Rockets in 2022-23 while shooting a career-best 68.3% from the floor. He finished runner-up to Mike Conley in voting for the NBA Sportsmanship award last season and was second in voting for the 2021-22 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award. [Season Video Highlights]

For his career, Marjanović is averaging 22.9 points and 14.8 rebounds per 36 minutes played. He is one of 14 players listed 7’4” or taller to have played in the NBA and he has the seventh-most career games played of that group, which includes former Rockets Yao Ming, Chuck Nevitt and Ralph Sampson.

Rockets sign Aaron Holiday

The Houston Rockets have signed free agent guard Aaron Holiday.

Holiday (6-0, 185) was originally the 23rd overall pick by Indiana in the 2018 NBA Draft. In five seasons for the Pacers, Washington, Phoenix and Atlanta, he has appeared in 308 games with 62 starts while averaging 6.6 points, 2.2 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game. Holiday is also a career 84.1% shooter from the foul line.

Dating back to 2019-20, Holiday has shot 38.6% from 3-point range, including a career-best 40.9% for the Hawks in 2022-23. Over that four-season span, he was one of four players with 130-plus games played to have averaged at least 6.0 ppg and 2.0 apg in fewer than 19.0 mpg.

Holiday’s older brothers, Justin and Jrue, have both been in the NBA for over 10 seasons. Justin was briefly with the Rockets last February. Aaron earned First Team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honors in his final season as a junior for UCLA in 2017-18.

Rockets sign Jeff Green

The Houston Rockets have signed free agent forward Jeff Green.

Green (6-8, 235) recently finished his 15th NBA season by averaging 17.2 minutes played during Denver’s championship playoff run. In 1,107 career games with 650 starts, he has averaged 12.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 28.5 minutes per game.

Over the past three seasons, Green averaged 9.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 1.4 apg in 24.0 mpg while shooting 50.3% from the floor. In 68 games for Brooklyn in 2020-21, he averaged 1.5 3-pointers made on a career-best 41.2% shooting. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was an assistant coach with the Nets that season.

This will mark Green’s second stint as a Rocket. He joined the team during the 2019-20 season and helped Houston advance to the Conference Semifinals as part of the Orlando “bubble” experience.

Green made his NBA debut as a 21-year-old with the Seattle Supersonics in 2007 and has teamed with eight players who won the MVP award at some point during their career: Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett, James Harden, LeBron James, Nikola Jokić, Shaquille O’Neal, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook.

Nets trade Patty Mills to Rockets

The Brooklyn Nets have traded guard Patty Mills and a 2028 second round draft pick (via Milwaukee) to the Houston Rockets in exchange for future draft considerations.

“Patty was an exemplary representative of the Nets during his two years in Brooklyn, both for his contributions on the court and his impact in the community,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “We thank Patty for all he has brought to our organization and wish him and Alyssa nothing but the best in their next chapter.”

Mills originally signed with the Nets on Aug. 10, 2021, and appeared in 121 games (50 starts) across two seasons (2021-23) in Brooklyn, registering averages of 9.7 points on 40.9 percent shooting from the field, 39.3 percent shooting from 3-point range and 82.0 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 1.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.1 minutes per game. In the 2022-23 campaign, Mills played in 40 games (two starts) and averaged 6.2 points on 41.1 percent shooting from the field, 36.6 percent shooting from distance and 83.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 1.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 14.2 minutes per contest. Mills has played in 860 games (107 starts) in 14 seasons with Brooklyn, San Antonio (2011-21) and Portland (2009-11), notching averages of 9.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 20.4 minutes per game while shooting 42.6 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from 3-point range and 85.4 percent from the free-throw line.

2023-24 Houston Rockets coaching staff announced

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has announced his staff for the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season. Joining the team as assistant coaches will be Ben Sullivan, Royal Ivey, Garrett Jackson, Tiago Splitter, Cam Hodges and Mike Moser.

Sullivan was an assistant coach with Boston the past two seasons, including on Udoka’s staff in 2021-22. Prior to joining the Celtics, Sullivan spent seven seasons as an assistant on Mike Budenholzer’s staff in both Atlanta and Milwaukee and helped the Bucks win the championship in 2020-21. Sullivan began his NBA career as an assistant video coordinator with San Antonio after being recommended by Udoka, who at the time was an assistant coach with the Spurs.

Ivey joins the Rockets from Brooklyn, where he spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach, including alongside Udoka on Steve Nash’s staff in 2020-21. After finishing his 10-year NBA career, Ivey became an assistant coach for Oklahoma City’s G League affiliate, the Blue. He eventually transitioned into an assistant coach for the Thunder and was also an assistant coach with his hometown Knicks. Ivey completed his career at the University of Texas at Austin as the school’s all-time leader in starts.

Jackson spent the past two seasons as a player enhancement coach for Boston. The Portland native played overseas following his collegiate career at USC and Saint Mary’s. Jackson was a graduate manager for Hawaii men’s team in 2018-19 before taking an internship with the Spurs video department.

Splitter spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach with the Nets and worked alongside Udoka in 2020-21. Following a standout playing career in Spain, Splitter joined the Spurs in 2010-11 and started 18 playoff games during their championship run in 2013-14. He has been an assistant coach for the Brazilian National team and served as head coach of their under-23 squad.

Hodges was a coaching associate for the Los Angeles Clippers for the past three seasons after serving as player development coach for Philadelphia in 2019-20 when Udoka was an assistant. He also worked three seasons as a player development assistant for the Spurs. Hodges, who served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve, played overseas before interning with the Erie Bayhawks in the G League.

Moser was a player enhancement coach for Boston last season after serving as an assistant coach for the Oregon Ducks women’s team in 2021-22. As a redshirt senior for Oregon, he earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. Moser played overseas for several years with stops in Lithuania, Israel, Kosovo, Qatar, Finland, and France.

Rockets sign rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore

The Houston Rockets yesterday signed rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore.

Thompson (6-7, 215) was the fourth overall pick by Houston in the 2023 NBA Draft. He spent the past two seasons with Overtime Elite, (OTE) an Atlanta-based league which offers players ages 16 through 20 a pathway to becoming professional athletes. His twin brother, Ausar, was selected fifth overall by Detroit, making them the first brothers picked top-10 in the same draft in NBA history.

While leading his team, the City Reapers, to the OTE championship last season, Amen averaged 17.2 points, 9.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds up from regular season averages of 16.3 ppg, 6.2 apg and 6.4 rpg. The 20-year-old ranked third in the league in assists and sixth in scoring. In 51 career OTE games (regular season and playoffs), Thompson averaged 2.2 steals and 1.2 blocks while shooting 53.6% from the floor.

Whitmore (6-7, 235) was the 20th overall pick by the Rockets in the 2023 NBA Draft. As a freshman at Villanova last season, he averaged 12.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.4 spg and 1.4 3-pointers made. Over the past 15 seasons, Whitmore was one of four Division I freshman to have averaged at least 12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.00 spg and 1.0 3FGM while playing fewer than 28.0 mpg.

At the 2022 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship, Whitmore averaged 18.7 points and was named MVP after leading USA Basketball to the gold medal. The former McDonald’s All-American will turn 19 years old on July 8.