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[Houston Rockets]

Rockets 2024-2025 season in review: Dillon Brooks

The Most Consistent Rocket? | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Old Reliable?

Hey, where are all those “Dillon Brooks Is Going To Play For The Shanghai Sharks!” takes? The “Rockets Were Only Bidding Against Themselves For Brooks, LOL!” remarks from clever podcasters? The “What a terrible overpay and deal, hope you like Dillon shooting a lot!” predictions?

Anyone with the above sentiments from the NBA blog-pod-social-media commentariart care to drop by for some Southern fried hot crow? Over the past two seasons Dillon Brooks has been worth what the Rockets paid him, and then some.

Some might have thought that Dillon’s defense slipped a bit this season, and perhaps it did, but it’s hard to see it from the company he kept with his individual defensive rating. Dillon ended up with a very good Defensive Player Rating. About the best in the NBA over the regular season, with enough games played to qualify for an NBA award (65), and enough minutes to qualify as a starter (30+), was around 104.

The NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, Evan Mobley compiled a 108.6 rating. Dillon Brooks? 108.8. That seems pretty good. Good overall defenses tend to have good individual defense scores and the Rockets are no exception (Do good individual defensive efforts produce good team defense? It’s a kind of chicken and egg situation perhaps.). Amen Thompson clocked in at 107.9, Alperen Sengun at 107.4 (!), and the Rockets were lead by Jabari Smith at 106.1 (well, Steven Adams had the best score, but his minutes/games don’t qualify him).

Dillon’s main problem on defensive is that he’s not a great rebounder. Fortunately, that’s not a problem on the Rockets, who have great individual rebounders, and by some metrics were the best rebounding team in the NBA.

Dillon was second in technical fouls this season at 19, behind Anthony Edwards at 20. The execrable Draymond Green had 18. How is this possible? How did Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson have more regular season ejections than Draymond, and Dillon the same number? You’ll have to ask the NBA Referees Association, as the standard for Dillon Brooks and Ant Edwards technicals and the one for Draymond is wildly different.

But good defense, technical fouls, being an irritant and jackass is the book on Brooks right? So how is it he’s been worth his contract and more? Why was last season a great one for Brooks? In a word, offense.

Dillon shot 40% from three point range on 6.3 attempts per game. He had a True Shooting percentage of .555%. This was better than Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Fred VanVleet. Of the starter/heavy rotation players Dillon was slightly exceeded by Jabari and Tari in this statistic, and also by Amen Thompson.

Dillon was, surprisingly decent on his drives, too. I may have started the season calling them “Dillon’s Dribblin’ Adventures!” but they were effective, and for the most part either within the context of the offense or was an attempt to generate offense when the Rockets were bogged down in the half court, which was often.

The drives, and turnaround jumpers from Kanadian Kobe might have looked odd, but they were effective. His usage might have seemed high in some games, but it wasn’t. Dillon had a 17% usage rate.

All this didn’t produce an All Star player, or even close to it, but it did offer consistent effort on defense, some scorching hot nights on offense, and generally good value for Dillon’s deal. I believe a lot of teams would like a big, tough, physical defender who almost never takes a play off at wing or power forward.

It’s probably impossible to calculate, but difficult to overstate Dillon’s effect on the effort level and toughness of the young Rockets, which saw a marked turnaround last season with the addition of Ime Udoka, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. Dillon might be a hothead, and an irritant, but the horrible defending, uninspired, soft, young Rockets from before Dillon’s arrival needed his fiery presence.

It may be that Dillon’s future lies elsewhere, as judging by the numbers, and age, the Rockets really do need to find more minutes from Jabari Smith, Tari Eason (if he can play back to backs) and Amen Thompson if Thibs Minutes Levels are ok for him, (and even Cam Whitmore if your team scoring matters at all in the NBA). The Rockets also have the 10th pick in this draft, which I suspect has Carter Bryant, a big, young, athletic, great defending, intense, mediocre at best on offense, player waiting for the Rockets to bring him to his Forever Home.

In any case, stay or go, Dillon Brooks has been worth it for the Rockets, no matter how you look at it.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/2025/5/25/24437191/rockets-2024-2025-season-in-review-dillon-brooks

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets 2024-2025 season in review: Tari Eason

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Eason had his best season, but he still needs to stay on the court more.

We all love Tari Eason. He brings an incredible dynamic of forcing chaos onto the opposing team when coming off of the bench. And he started off the season as one half of the Terror Twins with Amen Thompson as high-quality reserves. But after Jabari Smith Jr. got hurt and Thompson entered the starting lineup, Eason was left standing as a one-man wrecking crew off the bench.

But there’s one thing we need from Eason. He needs to be on the court. After playing in all 82 games his rookie season, Eason has played in just 79 out of 164 games over the past two years. His former leg injury mysteriously popped back up again this season as needing “management”, forcing Eason into missing 25 games in the 2024-2025 season. One of the best abilities is availability, and Houston simply needs more of it from Eason.

Statistically, he had his best season as pro. He averaged a career-high 12 points per game to go along with 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 steals, and nearly a block per game. The steals and assists were also career highs. His 48.7 percent shooting percentage was also a career best. His three-ball dipped to 34.2 percent, but it was still effective enough (almost league average) to keep teams honest. His 24.9 minutes per game was also a career-best.

He had pretty good numbers in the postseason series against the Golden State Warriors, but with the team fully healthy, he only averaged 18.9 minutes per night in the postseason. This illustrates an ongoing problem for the Rockets. Granted, in the grand scheme of problems, this is a good one to have, but Houston’s depth keeps guys like Eason, who should be playing a ton, on the bench more often than he should be. The same issue happened with Jabari Smith Jr., who was one of Houston’s most consistent shooters in the playoffs, but that’s another article.

Rockets GM Rafael Stone can talk continuity with this group all he wants, but at some point, decisions are going to need to made. Eason has one more year on his rookie deal at $5.6 million. He’s most certainly going to want a long-term deal. He’s also going to want to play more than 20 minutes a night — and most likely deserves to — as the 24-year-old begins his athletic prime.

Will the Rockets be able to offer Eason the salary he wants as well as the playing time he’s likely going to be seeking? Granted, Eason will be restricted when he hits free agency after this season, but he’s not going to put off signing a long-term deal forever. The Rockets also have a similar decision to make with Smith Jr. They’re not going to be able to feed all those mouths over the long term, as we’ve been over ad nauseum here at TDS. There are 29 other teams in the NBA who can use a Tari Eason.

The best thing Eason can do for himself and the Rockets this season is show that he’s completely healthy and stay on the court. He’s going to get run for Ime Udoka as his resident agent of chaos. If he wants a big deal in Houston, showing he can be available all year is the first place to start.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/2025/...rockets-2024-2025-season-in-review-tari-eason

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets 2024-2025 season in review: Jalen Green

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Who’d you think TDS would get to write this? You guessed it, and I still believe in Jalen green.

On August 14, 2024, I published my very first piece for the Dream Shake. The title... “Jalen Green could be walking the footsteps on an NBA legend”. In that piece, I shared comparisons of Jalen Green’s first three seasons in the NBA with that of Kobe Bryant. I recommend you go back and read that piece. For my first, it wasn’t bad if I may say so myself. The real entertainment is in the comment section however, because I got ROASTED.

Before we get into the nuances of Jalen Green’s 2024-2025 season, let’s just look at the raw numbers. In 82 regular season games played Jalen averaged 21 points-per-game, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists on 42.3 percent shooting from the field, including 35.4 percent from three. In short, Jalen Green was what he has been, as those number nearly mimic his career averages. A skeptic would argue that he hasn’t improved, and optimist would say he’s been more consistent, and the biggest difference is that he put these numbers together for a 52-win playoff basketball team.

Jalen Green showed much more consistency this regular season. Did he have his share of bad games? Yes. However, those stretches were much fewer and farther between. One of Jalen’s most vital abilities has been his availability. For the second consecutive season, Jalen Green played all 82 games. In 2024-2025, a season that saw multiple key Rockets players miss time with injury, this was invaluable to say the least. There is little doubt that the Rockets likely don’t win 52 games and finish with the fourth-best league record without Jalen Green, who led the team in scoring, recording 14 games of 30 or more points, and one 40+ point game.

Now we may address the elephant in the room. In what were the seven biggest games of his young career, Jalen Green was not good. He averaged 13.3 points-per-game, 5.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 37.2 percent shooting, including a dismal 29.5 percent from the three-point line and 66.7 percent from the free-throw line in the NBA Playoffs. All far lower than his regular season and career numbers. We can’t ignore that it is a singular 38-point performance in Game 2 that even makes the numbers look as “good” as they are. Jalen was not good. He described his play himself as “straight sh*t”.

So it’s settled then, right? Jalen Green’s career is cooked, he’s finished as a member of the Rockets, it’s time for them to move on. In fact, they should have moved on last season before giving him a contract extension... right?

I’m going to echo the same sentiment I did in my first TDS piece. What were you doing when you were 23. Were you at the top of your profession? Did you hit the ground running on everything you did with no speed bumps along the way? “Nick... I’m not an NBA player making millions of dollars to play basketball.” I hear you. “This was Sengun’s first playoffs too, and he didn’t struggle like Jalen. Again, I hear you. Now, hear me if you will?

Jalen Green is today’s equivalent of what coming straight out of high school would have looked like in the late ‘90s to mid 2000s. The now defunct G-League Ignite proved to be a failure in preparing high school kids who wanted to forgo college to play in NBA. Jalen Green came into the NBA on a team with no structure, no discipline, and no veteran leadership. These are not excuses for Jalen, just facts. He isn’t the first player to struggle in his first playoff series, and he won’t be the last.

While his situation is similar to Amen Thompson, who showed brilliance at times in the playoffs, Amen came into a much more structured environment that is conducive to accountability and development. Jalen has improved in his overall game in this same environment, but he still has much needed growth. The good news for him is he is 23 years old. With all due respect to Amen Thompson, he did not face the type of defensive pressure or strategy that Jalen Green did, because Jalen Green’s skillset is very different.

In many ways, as Ime Udoka pointed out to the media in his interview after the series was over, it was a sign of respect that the Warriors defended Jalen the way that they did. In the single game they played more straight up man-to-man, he cooked them for 38 and the Rockets cruised to victory. The Warriors have far too much experience to not adjust, so now the onus is on Jalen Green to make his adjustments in the offseason.

It’s often said if you want to truly know who someone is, listen to what their peers say about them. There is no one who will deny Jalen’s talent and desire to be great, and his teammates, coaches, and GM know what his potential is. The only question is will his work ethic and discipline match that desire to be great? I’m sorry, Rockets fans, but to believe that question has been answered at the age of 23 is just flawed thinking. The Rockets are a young team with as core that is still developing. Jalen Green is not the single piece keeping them from being a championship team. He is a crucial piece to the vision Tilman Fertitta laid out when he bought the team.

There are no shortcuts to greatness. Kobe Bryant averaged 8.2 points per game in around 14 minutes per game in his first year in the playoffs. Aside from one or two impressive performances, he was not good, famously shooting four airballs late in an elimination game against the Utah Jazz. As I stated in my very first piece, I lived in Los Angeles at the beginning of Kobe’s career, and fans were frustrated.

I believe the NBA in general in addition to the fans have become much less patient in this age of free-agent empowerment and forming of “super teams”. However, I want to remind the readers of The Dream Shake that the Houston Rockets have attempted to build a championship roster in every way possible. They have drafted young stars and developed them, they have traded assets for stars that other teams drafted, and they have traded or signed aging stars past their prime in a last-ditch effort to get them over the top. The only strategy that hung two banners in the rafters of The Summit / Compaq Center that now hang in Toyota center, was to draft their own stars and develop them.

I’ve seen more “trade Jalen Green” sentiment and proposals than I can count. If Jalen wants to be truly great, he needs to understand that heavy is the head that wears the crown. it comes with the territory. He must embrace it and use it as fuel. He doesn’t have to be Kobe. If he becomes the best version of Jalen Green, then all the Rockets patience will be well rewarded. Stay tuned.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/2025/...reen-amen-thompson-alperen-sengun-kobe-bryant

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets 2024-2025 season in review: Amen Thompson

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

Rocket’s 2024-2025 season reviews continue with forward/guard Amen Thompson

After being drafted with the number four overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Amen Thompson’s rookie season was full of promise. When Alperen Sengun went down with a season ending injury, Thompson was inserterd into the starting lineup, where he thrived as a small-ball four, as he put up several noteworthy games to end the season. The Rockets knew then that they had a special player who would only get better. Fans and media alike were excited for his sophomore season, and Amen did not disappoint.

Coming off the bench to begin the 2024 season, Thompson and Tari Eason became one of the Rockets’ most potent off-the-shelf duos, known as the “Terror Twins.” Thompson and Eason wreaked havoc on the defensive end of the court and helped the Rockets vault to the top half of the Western Conference.

Like the previous season, the Rockets elected to insert Thompson into the starting lineup after an injury — this time when Jabari Smith Jr. injured his hand during practice following their New Year’s Day game. Thompson made the most of the move and rose to become one of the NBA’s top defensive players overall, no longer with the “young player” caveat. He garnered an NBA Defensive Player of the Month award.

On the attacking end of the court, he also got better. In his second season, Thompson’s points per game increased from 9.5 in the previous one to 14.1 in this one. Rebounding, assists, and steals per game all increased for Thompson, demonstrating his overall growth.

Thompson’s growth allowec Dillon Brooks to concentrate more on the offensive end of the court, as Thompson often took on the responsibility of covering the opposing team’s best wing or guard. The Rockets’ second-place finish in the competitive Western Conference was largely due to their newfound versatility spearheaded by Thompson’s outstanding two-way play.

Thompson demonstrated that his style of play works at any time of the year, despite the fact that he was participating in his first-ever postseason series. After settling in and learning what NBA Playoff basketball was all about, Thompson, who had a rough start to the series, emerged as one of the Rockets’ most reliable players starting at the conclusion of Game 4.

Another reason Thompson has a special skill set is because he not just an excellent defender and capable scorer, but also a pass-first forward. He recorded 24 double-digit board games and four double-digit assist games. Along the process, he recorded three triple-doubles and 20 double-doubles.

With 33 points against the Celtics on January 27, 16 rebounds (twice), and 7 steals in games against the Lakers on January 5 and the Cavaliers on January 22, Thompson set new single-game records.

Amen Thompson also received NBA All Defensive First Team honors alongside Cavaliers center Evan Mobley, Warriors forward Draymond Green, Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, and Thunder guard/forward Lu Dort.

With his rookie contract with the Rockets through 2027, Thompson is currently one of the league’s greatest deals. His flexibility on both the offensive and defensive ends has been impressive. Thompson’s name has been floated as the focal point of a potential star trade for the Rockets, specifically for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but after this kind of season, I believe Houston can fairly rule that out. The bloggers and beat writers for the other team will undoubtedly mention him in any possible Rockets trade rumors, but it will be more wishful thinking on their side than anything else.

Going ahead, I believe it’s reasonable to say that Amen is a part of Houston’s core. As the Rockets attempt to transform from a strong team that qualifies for the playoffs to a contender for a title, Thompson is only going to get better and has established himself as one of the team’s pillars.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/2025/...-2024-2025-season-in-review-amen-thompson-nba

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets 2024-2025 season in review: Jabari Smith Jr.

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Jabari improved a lot, but there’s still more to work on.

This season was one of high significance for Jabari Smith Jr. With a potential contract extension looming, the former third overall pick needed a career year to prove to Houston his worth. However, a couple factors diminished Bari’s opportunity of having his best season, but that’s not to say he didn’t have a good year.

Sure, his numbers were down from the year prior, but his overall play was improved, as well as his defense. Not to mention, a midseason injury caused Jabari to miss over 20 games, not ideal for a 21-year-old trying to find his footing in the lineup. Even with the injury setback though, Smith was a big help to the Rockets becoming the two seed in the West, and as I’ll explain here, was an absolute positive for the team.

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Smith appeared in 57 regular-season games, averaging 12.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists over 30 minutes a game. He posted shooting splits of 43.8% from the field, 35.4% from three-point range, and 82.5% from the free-throw line. These were statistically, a slight dip from his sophomore season, but injury and lower volume played a role in that. After starting in the first 33 games of the season for the Rockets, in early January, Smith suffered a fractured hand during practice that sidelined him for 21 games. Returning from the missed time, Smith slowly transitioned to a bench role, still providing valuable minutes, but only getting six starts of his next 24 games.

This would prove to be where he played best at. In 18 games off the bench, Smith would average about 13/8/1 on 49/37/82 splits. All of these showed notable improvement from when he was starting, as well as his defense, which got better towards the end of the year. A lot of the improved play can likely be tied back to the use of the double big lineup. At the three, Smith was virtually a pure floor spacer and mismatch hunter. His offense was elevated tons, as well as his defensive, showing his capabilities to guard the 3-5.

In the postseason, Smith’s role was slimmed down quite a bit, averaging just 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds over 20 minutes a night. Notably, his shooting efficiency was very good, hitting 50.0% from the field and an impressive 45.5% from beyond the arc, but the ball just never seemed to end up in his hands when he was playing well. His playoff experience was one that could’ve been so much more had he been used correctly. The main issue however, was his turnovers and poor decision making. While he was playing very well when the ball left his hands for a shot, when he attempted creating for his own, at times the lack of playmaking ability for Jabari was clear as day.

Which leads me to discuss what needs to be worked on this offseason for the young Jabari Smith Jr. For starters, I think his ball-handling and shot creation is in need of refinement. As a 6’10 stretch forward, Smith can shoot over almost any defender, his issue is he just can’t create shots in a way that plays to his strengths. Improving on that could elevate his offense so much, which would be fantastic for Houston. Another improvement I think Smith should seek is his playmaking ability. We saw the struggle with this in the playoffs, and quite frankly, even just an assist or two more a game while keeping the same turnovers would be forward progress. But, an MPJ 2.0 archetype is not something that should be sought after, which is sometimes the vibes I get when I see Bari look off the open man.

However, as Smith enters his fourth NBA season, and a very important offseason, his development still remains promising in my eyes. With a potential contract extension on the horizon, Smith needs to make his best progress as a player over the summer, because if not, either a trade, or an underball contract is looming for the former third overall pick. Something that I doubt either party is interested in having a conversation about. So do I still believe in Jabari? Absolutely, and so should every Rockets fan. All the potential tools are there, it’s just about whether or not he can unlock them.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/2025/...024-2025-season-in-review-jabari-smith-jr-nba

 

[Houston Rockets]

VOTE: Which Rockets player goes if the team trades for a star?

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

The Rockets are in offseason trade rumors. If they decide to do it, who goes?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Houston Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The Houston Rockets are littered through NBA offseason trade rumors by the nature of their assets. Multiple talented young players and a huge cache a draft picks will do that.

In particular, the Rockets have been linked at various times to Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Giannis Antetokuonmpo. If the Rockets decide to make a move for a player of that caliber, it’s very likely they are going to have to give up one of their most valuable players (among various other assets) in order to make it work. In all likelihood, the three Rockets with the most value on the trade market are Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jalen Green.

This week’s question asks, if the Rockets trade for a superstar and one of the top three have to go, which one are you sending out?

Cast your vote and defend your position in the comments. We’ll be back soon with the results!

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/2025/...star-alperen-sengun-jalen-green-amen-thompson

 

[Houston Rockets]

Rockets 2024-25 Season In Review: Alperen Sengun.

Big 20 | Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

The Rockets Best Player.

Alpern Sengun is currently the best player on the Houston Rockets. He’s one of the best 20 players in the NBA, too.

This despite the fact that in some respects his statistics declined a bit last season, mostly in terms of offensive efficiency. In other respects, looking at various counting,rate, and value stats, there’s reason to believe that Alperen Sengun is a top 20 player in the NBA, at 22 years old, in his fourth NBA season.

Alpie will turn 23 in July. It’s remarkable how good he is now, even 4 or 5 years away from typical peak seasons for an NBA player. It’s also remarkable that he showed this same growth path on two exceedingly dismal Rockets teams that did not feature him, in his first two seasons. In his third he again faced skepticism from his head coach, and he again proved that coach wrong.

Now it’s a matter of getting NBA watchers and commenters to realize that Alpie is genuinely top 20 in the NBA, maybe top 15. There are some bigger names, some better known players that others might rank in front of him, but some of those spots are perhaps claimed on reputation, rather than production.

This may all seem hard be believe, given that right now in terms of national media recognition, Sengun mostly gets kindly pats on the head, rather than the genuine respect he deserves. That should change, soon. Partly because his work demands it, and partly because I suspect the Rockets will enjoy more playoff and regular season success in the 2025-26 season and beyond. The likely continuing growth and maturity of Rockets players who are still young enough to improve, including Sengun, makes this seem a good prediction to me.

Certainly there are legitimate questions about the future of some Rockets players, and also real concern over the moribund and ineffective status of Ime Udoka’s offense, as so glaringly demonstrated in the playoffs against Golden State, this post-season.

All the same, in my mind there should be little question or doubt regarding Alperen Sengun’s future play, and future value to the Rockets. Indeed, I believe the question will be whether or not he simply grows into the better players in the NBA at his position, but not clearly near the top of that spot, or ascends to stardom.

Sengun has given us ample reason to believe stardom is a real, possibly likely outcome, because he’s already living in the outskirts of that rarefied country.

Last season Alpie posted these stats, at age 22:

19.1pts/10.3rbs/4.9ast/1.1stl/0.8blk

Here’s another age 22 stat line:

18.5pts/10.7rbs/6.1ast/1.2stl/0.8blk

Yes, the second line is Nikola Jokic’s age 22 season. He, too, saw a slight decline in his shooting percentages in his age 22 season as well, like Sengun. His free throw shooting, though, was markedly better at 85% on 4.2 attempts, versus Alpie’s 69% on 5.6 attempts per game. Making free throw’s at The Joker’s age 22 rate would take Alpie over 20 points per game, with no additional shot or free throw attempts.

Still, when people say “Baby Jokic” referring to Sengun, those people probably don’t realize it’s more like “Twin Jokic” in terms of the main stats for Alperen Sengun thus far, when you compare same age seasons.

There are still more reasons to be confident in Sengun. Here are metrics in which Sengun is Top 20 in the NBA.

Counting/Rate Stats:

Total Rebounds - 8th

Defensive Rebounds - 12th

Offensive Rebounds Per Game - 8th

2pt FG per game: 9th

Free Throw Attempts Per Game: 11th

And some calculated stats:

PER - 19th

Win Shares - 19th

Defensive Win Shares - 5th

Box Plus/Minus - 14th

VORP - 12th

Defensive Rating: 11th

Beyond this, Alperen Sengun is also one of two offensive players on the Rockets any opponent actually game plans, and sets its defense, for. He’s one of the few Rockets who have shown the ability to carry the team to wins on the back of his performances. I believe he could do more, much more, with a more imaginative and free offense. An offense that doesn’t fear its own mistakes and opponents scoring off them so much that it constipates itself. Will the Rockets actually achieve such an offense? That remains to be seen. Alpie’s usage is somewhat high at 27%, but could go higher, and would profit even more from a return to his earlier efficiency levels.

Alpie faced real targeting from defenses last season, and especially in the playoffs. We’ll see if he does as he has in the past, and begins next season ready to face, and exceed, that challenge.

In any case, Rockets fans should feel good that their current best player is not only signed for the future, but still growing, still on a great path (almost precisely like Jokic’s so far), and capable of more than we’ve seen so far.

Alpern Sengun is currently the best player on the Rockets. Maybe Amen Thompson, or another player takes that crown, but given Alpie’s path, that might take some real doing, and could only be good for us as Rockets fans.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/2025/6/4/24443022/rockets-2024-25-season-in-review-alperen-sengun

 

[Houston Rockets]

Report: Knicks interested in Ime Udoka as their next head coach; Rockets say no-go

Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

The Knicks are in the market for a new coach, and Ime is on their radar.

After losing to the Indiana Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals, the New Yori Knicks dismissed coach Tom Thibodeau.

During his five years as head coach, Thibodeau guided the Knicks to the postseason four times. In a statement, Knicks president Leon Rose stated:

“Winning a championship for our fans is our organization’s sole focus. We’ve made the tough choice to let Tom Thibodeau know that we’ve changed our course as a result of this pursuit. We are incredibly grateful to Tom for giving his all every day as the head coach of the New York Knicks. Over the previous five seasons, he not only guided us with poise and professionalism, but he also had great success on the court, leading us to four postseason berths and four playoff series wins.”

Reports state that the Knicks now have interest in Rockets coach Ime Udoka. In his first season in Boston, Udoka guided the Celtics to the NBA Finals before they were defeated by the Warriors in six games. However, he was suspended and later fired for an alleged inappropriate contact with a female employee, thus, his time with the Celtics was short.

Throughout his two seasons as head coach, he has guided the Rockets to an incredible turnaround. Before losing to the Warriors in the opening round of the playoffs, they finished second in the Western Conference with a 52-30 record this season. In his first season with the team, the Rockets finished 41-41.

Some saw Udoka, who just finished a stellar second season leading the Houston Rockets, as a viable candidate for the coaching position the Knicks had open after Tom Thibodeau was fired on Tuesday. Kelly Iko of The Athletic dispelled the notion that Udoka would replace Thibodeau just over 24 hours after the Knicks confirmed the information that ESPN’s Shams Charania had initially published.

“Regarding reports identifying Ime Udoka as a possible target for the vacant Knicks coaching position, [Houston] has no interest in entertaining that,” Iko stated on Wednesday. “Both parties are committed to the long-term project and are actively preparing for a busy offseason.”

Regarding reports identifying Ime Udoka as a possible target for the vacant Knicks coaching position, HOU has no interest in entertaining that, a team source told @TheAthletic. Both parties are committed to the longterm project and are actively preparing for a busy offseason.

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) June 4, 2025​

Many are excited by the potential of Houston’s young squad, which includes Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Amen Thompson, even though the team lost a seven-game set to the Golden State Warriors in the first round. Thankfully, Udoka will be present for the exciting process as Houston is anticipated to enter the talks for high-profile acquisitions this offseason.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/2025/...eir-next-head-coach-houston-rockets-say-no-go

 

[Houston Rockets]

SB Nation Reacts results: Which Rockets player goes if the team trades for a star?

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

If the fans are playing GM, it’s clear who goes.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Houston Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

This one ended up clear as day. This week’s question asked if the Rockets traded for a superstar, which one of the trio of Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green and Amen Thompson you’d most want to see go in a potential deal.

In all likelihood, the trade partner, whether its the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis or the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant or Devin Booker, are going to be looking for one of Houston’s top players in return. If that’s the case, who goes?

This one is all Jalen. Almost 90 percent of our voters picked Green. Almost 10 percent picked Sengun, while Thompson came in at the bottom.

With the NBA Finals in full swing, make sure you stop by our good friends at FanDuel and pick some straight up bets, parlays and player props. You can find the best place to bet on the NBA right here.

We’ll be back soon with more questions.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/2025/...oes-if-the-team-trades-for-a-star-jalen-green

 

[Houston Rockets]

Report: Rockets getting calls from around the league about Cam Whitmore

Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Kelly Iko speaks... we listen. But should the Rockets be entertaining trading Whitmore?

According to Kelly Iko of The Athletic, one of the Houston Rockets promising young talents is garnering interest around the league.

A handful of teams have inquired about the availability of sparingly used wing Cam Whitmore, league and team sources said. Since being drafted with the No. 20 pick in 2023, Whitmore has struggled to entrench himself in Udoka’s tight rotation and at times has expressed his displeasure at the end of the bench, but there is still optimism about his potential and rotation spot — having shown strong periods of play over the last two seasons. At this stage, neither Whitmore nor his representation has requested a trade and both sides are hopeful of finding a solution.

Given the flashes that he has shown of what his full potential could be over the last two seasons, this news shouldn’t be surprising. When you add the fact that since the Rockets have re-entered the realm of relevance, most of the league and those who cover it are determined that the team must make a move in order to become true contenders. There have been dozens of trade scenarios that include everyone on the roster, including their only all-star at the age of 22, Alperen Sengun.

Trades scenarios and rumors about Cam Whitmore make sense, however, for all the reasons that Iko highlighted in the quote above. Cam didn’t crack the rotation very much at all, and when he did it was because of injury. After a rocky start to the 2024-2025 season, a brief stint in the G-League seemed to infuse him with confidence upon his return, and Rockets fans again saw those flashes of offensive brilliance coupled with his immense athleticism. Upon his return, he averaged 10 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1 assist per game in 17.4 minutes per game in 25 games played.

However, as Rockets fans know, it was not all sunshine and rainbows. Cam Whitmore may have the worst poker face in the NBA. His frustrations were very evident by his body language and cryptic answers to reporters when pressed about his lack of playing time. Somehow, he seemed perplexed at what he needed to do to earn more time and the floor, and his head coach was perplexed at Whitmore for being perplexed. All in all, it became evident as the season went on that Whitmore’s role on this team, for this season, was not essential to the immediate goal of winning.

That by no means is to say his role will never be essential to the team’s goal of winning. While I expect them to do their due diligence on any interest in Whitmore, I have to imagine the best-case scenario for them is that he meets the expectations of his coach and forces them to insert him into the rotation, and that he becomes an essential part of them winning games. If you believe Kelly Iko’s sources, then that is the hope of Whitmore and his camp as well. If you have read my material here on TDS, you know where I stand. Continuity. Let these young kids cook before you try and stick fork in them.

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/2025/...ut-cam-whitmore-nba-trade-rumors-sengun-green

 

[Houston Rockets]

Six Rockets make The Ringer’s Top 100 NBA Players

Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images

Who made the cut?

The Ringer recently updated it’s Top 100 NBA Player’s list on June 4, and six Houston Rockets players made the cut. Let’s take a quick look at which six The Ringer placed and where.

#36 - Alperen Sengun​

“The Jokic comps may always follow Sengun—even he knows that. But the Turkish center has proved with back-to-back standout seasons that he isn’t cosplaying as the Joker. There are definite similarities, to be sure: Sengun’s combination of brute force and passing flair, as well as his slow-unfurling jumper, bears an uncanny resemblance to the three-time MVP. But he’s more of a blend of Jokician feel for the game and a workaday big man. So while you’ll often see Sengun turn his back to the basket and either Dwight Freeney spin his way to the rim or hit a streaking cutter from an impossible passing angle, he’s also a regular target as a roll man and shifty enough with the ball in his hands to take a lumbering defender off the dribble and—get this—actually dunk it.

Defense has long been the main hurdle—while the young big man effectively leveraged his naturally quick hands, sharp read of the game, and physical rebounding under coach Ime Udoka, he largely relied on the Rockets’ hounding perimeter defenders even in the best of times last season. But Sengun has made major strides in his fourth season by playing more as a roamer, and Houston’s overall defense has taken a leap, from very good to elite, as a result.

Sengun’s ultimate ceiling is a matter of debate; his outside shot is virtually nonexistent, and he isn’t an elite finisher at the rim. But he’s one of the most exhilarating creators in the game, and he’s shown this season that he can ply his offensive wizardry in a winning context. Can the Rockets make the same leap the Nuggets ultimately did with Alpy, and not a historically great point center, as their fulcrum? We’ll see. For now, a 22-year-old All-Star powering one of the best teams in the West will suffice.”

#41 Amen Thompson​

“The league is as athletic as it’s ever been, packed to the brim with the kinds of explosive leapers and quick-twitch drivers who can make the impossible look routine. And then there’s Thompson—streaking past those very athletes on the break, soaring over them for rebounds, and disrupting their attempts to even keep a live dribble. The second-year anomaly doesn’t always know what to do with all that burst, but watching him guess and check is a revelation. Thompson doesn’t have an exact position. He can’t create much one-on-one just yet. He might be the worst jump shooter on this entire list. Yet Ime Udoka can’t keep him off the floor because whenever Thompson plays, the energy of the game completely changes.

Some of the ambiguities with Thompson will sort themselves out in time. Yet there are things he does that could never be taught, and that no coach, frankly, would even think to instruct. You don’t tell a player how to outrun everyone on the floor to blow up a play in progress. You just encourage him to hustle back into the mix and hope for the best. Thompson takes those hopes and turns them into highlights. He channels raw effort and pure savvy into winning plays. His nose for the ball is a talent in itself—as notable as the playmaking of an elite point guard prospect or the shooting stroke of a designated scorer. Thompson seeks and destroys. Just ask any opponent with the misfortune of being his assignment.”

#64 Fred VanVleet​

“Rockets fans begrudgingly understand how important VanVleet is to their surprise contender. He blocks pathways for the youth but creates just as many. The Rockets offense—full of talented but unruly athletes—completely craters without his presence. But to impact winning as much as VanVleet does while shooting that poorly and taking the lion’s share of positional minutes in a rotation? It simply doesn’t happen very often. The only other player from this century to do it is Jason Kidd in 2003-04; just about everyone else to do it played in the 1950s, an age when some of the most iconic stars and generational talents shot 37 percent from the field.

What Steady Freddy lacks in size and burst, he makes up for in S-tier hand-eye coordination. His reaction speed has allowed him to remain an elite team defender. He is a thief in the shadows, a perfect funnel leading unwitting offensive players into the jagged teeth of the defense. He remains a solid catch-and-shoot threat who tries to keep defenses honest with pull-up 3s—and given the Rockets’ unique build of board-crashing hyper-athletes, VanVleet keeps the lights on. There are some players whose impact (according to advanced metrics) veers into the realm of mysticism. VanVleet is one of those players—what Shane Battier was to the Rockets in the mid-to-late aughts. Judging purely from his estimated plus-minus, VanVleet has the influence of a top-20 player. The eye test both confirms and vehemently denies that reality. VanVleet has never been an efficient scorer, but he protects the ball and organizes an offense like a farmhand herding cattle. It’s honest work, and he’s doing it for phenomenal wages.”

#88 Tari Eason​

“The fine folks of Houston have taken a liking to branding Eason, alongside teammate Amen Thompson, as one-half of the “Terror Twins,” a two-word elevator pitch in praise of the duo’s demonic defense coverage. Great nickname. But think about that for a second. Eason plays with such dogged insistence as to supplant reality: Never mind that Amen, rather famously, has an actual identical twin also in the league—Tari is Amen’s funk soul brother.

Eason’s Year 3 breakout has been a leaguewide revelation amid Houston’s shocking pace as dark horse contenders. The breakout might have come even earlier had he not lost most of his sophomore season recovering from a stress fracture in his left leg. His effort and intensity jump off the screen and the spreadsheets; he’s the rare player whose eye test aligns almost exactly with his glowing metrics. Eason is an athletic, instinctive defensive playmaker whose 7-foot-2 wingspan and massive yet nimble hands have made him a “stocks” lord. Steal and block rates have been logged for the past 50 years of NBA history, and Tari’s outstanding combination of the two over the course of his young career is exceedingly rare. He has already proved to be a menace on the offensive glass, with one of the highest career offensive rebounding percentages in league history among players 6-foot-8 and under. And among his historical cohort, only Charles Barkley possessed the kind of on-ball creativity Eason has flashed on offense—which should only improve from here now that he’s gotten his 3-point shot to league average.

The next step for both Eason and the Rockets is finding out just how much his production can scale up without losing that edge—or compromising his body. Eason has already missed nearly a quarter of the season tending to a lower left leg injury—the same leg that suffered a stress fracture last year. Because if his battery can withstand 30-plus minutes of hell-raising two-way play per night, Eason has the makeup of a player worth building an identity around.”

#93 - Dillon Brooks​

“Brooks is not for everyone. But if you’re able to look past the excessive antics, some inefficient stats, unnecessary fouls, and debatable dirty play, what you’ll see is a valuable two-way wing who found several ways to make the Rockets a better team last season.

Few veterans were more accepting of a smaller role than Brooks, who sacrificed shots and touches on a young team that needed those two ingredients to grow. He handled more thankless tasks (like stranding himself on an island against the opponent’s top scoring threat every night) and made important subtle shifts (like significantly cutting back on midrange shots).

In Brooks’s second season with the Rockets, it’ll be interesting to see how his role continues to evolve on a team that’s even more loaded with up-and-coming players than it was a year ago.”

#98 - Jalen Green​

“Green seems to go on an annual 15- to 20-game heater to remind the world of just how talented he is. He’s untouchable during those stretches, during which he manages to correct the gap between the numbers and the eye test. Green hang glides in the air after leaping off two feet. He is a bolt of lightning when he splits double-teams out of a pick-and-roll en route to the basket. His jumper is pretty. His game is pretty. Flashes abound. In those pockets of standout play, the dream remains intact: explosive downhill finishing, efficient pull-up shooting at obscene volumes, reliable secondary playmaking. Alas, it never sticks. Maddening inconsistency has been the one constant across the former no. 2 pick’s first four seasons. He is nitroglycerin on the hardwood: fluid, explosive, and often self-destructive in suboptimal conditions.

In between these prolonged flashes, Houston has developed an identity that’s squeezed Green out—he hasn’t been able to organize the offense whenever Fred VanVleet is out, and his own scoring outbursts often come at the expense of the team’s overall offensive integrity. The on/off splits are damning: The Rockets’ net rating damn near resembles that of the 2024 championship-winning Celtics whenever Green isn’t on the floor. Houston needs something to change; so does Green. The three-year poison pill extension he signed early in the season made him nearly impossible to trade before the deadline, but depending on how the Rockets close out the rest of the season, Green could be one of the prime trade candidates of the summer. You don’t find 23-year-olds with elite traits available on the market very often. It might be only a matter of time before Green hits, err, greener pastures.”

Make sure you check out the full list from The Ringer here!

Source: https://www.thedreamshake.com/2025/...yers-alperen-sengun-amen-thompson-jalen-green