Though NBA training camps for the 2021-22 season won’t begin until late September, the Rockets are getting a head start as a team with a few days of pre-camp workouts in The Bahamas. Various social media updates from Houston’s players confirmed their mid-week arrival.
It’s an annual tradition of sorts for the Rockets, dating back to the James Harden era. But even with Harden no longer part of the team, it appears that the initiative will continue into the Jalen Green era.
Veteran forward Danuel House Jr., who is one of only two remaining players (along with Eric Gordon) from the Harden-era playoff teams, recently explained the rationale to Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston.
It’s a fun time. Guys are getting together. It’s that time of year again.
It’s real important off the court. It just gives us time to bond with one another, other than basketball. Once you build a relationship off the court, on the court, teamwork makes the dream work. It teaches us how to respond to one another. It teaches teamwork, chemistry, everything.
“We’ve got a lot of really young guys, and a couple new faces,” said second-year Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate. “Like House said, this is a time for us to come together and bond.”
“It’s very important for teams to have that bond off the court,” Tate concluded. “I think the best teams, the closest teams, are the ones that are most successful. It’s just getting acclimated with one another, and seeing where each other’s strengths are, and how we can improve.”
Forward Jae’Sean Tate (@o_tate_) on the Rockets players getting together in The Bahamas next month to work out, play basketball & bond: “Like (Danuel) House said this is a time for us to come together and bond. I think the best teams, the closest teams..are the most successful.” pic.twitter.com/jF9glCaVDc
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) August 27, 2021
The Bahamas trip prior to training camp also occurred in 2017, 2018 and 2019, but it was scrapped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
See below for social media updates from Houston players.
Şengün posting from the Bahamas. Seems the #Rockets pre-training camp training camp that Danuel House alluded to is happening! 👀 🤘 pic.twitter.com/NPkLJFu52E
— u/ST012Mi (@St012Mi) September 7, 2021
E parece que a famosa viagem chegou.#Rockets ➡️ Bahamas.
🚀⛱️ pic.twitter.com/E0ALeuroc4
— Clutch City Brasil (@ClutchCityBR) September 6, 2021
Josh Christopher também já chegou em Bahamas. 🏖
Em breve, todo o elenco do #Rockets estará reunido. pic.twitter.com/Hf3HGYGbeq
— Rockets Clubista (@rocketsclubista) September 7, 2021
