For on- and off-court reasons, many members of the Houston Rockets are in The Bahamas this week for unofficial team activities. The idea is that it could help the young team start to develop chemistry for the 2021-22 season, even prior to the launch of training camp in late September.
Since these basketball workouts, practices, and bonding activities are not official NBA events, there are no press conferences or media availability sessions with players. There are also no public cameras.
Each player, though — headlined by Christian Wood, five-time All-Star John Wall, and prized rookie Jalen Green — does have his own phone. Those phones often lead to social media updates, such as Wednesday’s flurry of pictures and videos showing players bonding on a yacht (possibly this one, which is owned by Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta).
TF’s yacht? 👀 #Rockets pic.twitter.com/iMmqxazllc
— u/ST012Mi (@St012Mi) September 9, 2021
In a recent interview, here’s how second-year Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate characterized the Bahamas trip and its importance to the team:
We’ve got a lot of really young guys, and a couple new faces. This is a time for us to come together and bond.
It’s very important for teams to have that bond off the court. 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.
So, what might that entail? As of Thursday, here’s a roundup of social media posts by Houston players showing their Bahamas activities.
Jalen Green, Kevin Porter, Jr, KJ Martin, David Nwaba, and Jae'Sean Tate pic.twitter.com/HmEdiSyq1m
— Rob Kimbell (@RobKSports) September 8, 2021
Wood gives a peak at the #Rockets work is being done in the Bahamas. 🤘 pic.twitter.com/1WKg7cvVMq
— u/ST012Mi (@St012Mi) September 8, 2021
Tropical news ! 🔴🌴
Pendant que l’ensemble du groupe se trouvait sur le yacht loué par la franchise, John Wall était à la salle. Il semble malgré tout être aussi arrivé aux Bahamas. pic.twitter.com/AcQJsiRgtv
— Rockets Nation France (@RocketsnationFr) September 9, 2021
Sengun on a boat in the Bahamas with some Rockets teammates 🤘 (KPJ x Green visible bottom left)
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This teams chemistry is about to be outta this world 💜 🚀 pic.twitter.com/lEcQjTt8X6— Clutch City Entertainment (@ClutchCityENTX) September 8, 2021
Christian Wood with David Nwaba and Daniel Theis in the Bahamas pic.twitter.com/wEHEFoifhB
— Rob Kimbell (@RobKSports) September 8, 2021
Simplesmente o elenco do Houston Rockets em um iate de luxo em Bahamas.
— Nação Vermelha (@nacao_vermelha_) September 9, 2021
Christian Wood has arrived for the #Rockets Bahamas trip pic.twitter.com/TOE3oEfEsl
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) September 8, 2021
