With a marketing slogan of “Light the Fuse,” the Rockets are embracing what most around the NBA view as a rebuilding season. Headlined by four first-round picks from the 2021 NBA draft, Houston’s roster features a significant amount of young talent that needs playing time to develop, starting with Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., and Alperen Sengun.
Given that youth, the expectations around the league for wins in 2021-22 are minimal for the Rockets. Yet, given those types of prospects, there are still obvious reasons to follow the team in the new season as Houston looks to work its way back into contention in the years ahead.
While playing prospects is a clear priority, the Rockets do still appreciate veterans who can guide those players and assist in their development, both on and off the court. Veteran guard John Wall isn’t expected to play, but he will be around the team on a daily basis. Excluding Wall, accomplished veterans such as Eric Gordon, Daniel Theis, Christian Wood, Danuel House Jr., and DJ Augustin will be part of the immediate rotation for head coach Stephen Silas, who enters his second year at the helm.
Houston’s regular season begins on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at Minnesota. Entering that game, here’s a look at the roster that second-year general manager Rafael Stone has put together for the Rockets. All height and weight information is according to the team’s published data, and ages reflect the status of each player entering the 2021-22 regular season.
