Houston Rockets center Clint Capela is doubtful for Saturday’s game versus Brooklyn due to a right heel contusion, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have some fun as his foot heals.
On Friday night, Capela served as the honorary coin toss captain for the Texas Bowl football game at Houston’s NRG Stadium between Texas A&M University and Oklahoma State University.
Besides being on the field for the coin toss, those duties also allowed Capela to watch the game from the sidelines. Though the 25-year-old grew up as a soccer fan in Switzerland, he seems to be entertained by American football as well.
Judging by videos posted to the stories section of his Instagram page, Capela seems to have been cheering for Texas A&M — whose campus in College Station is less than 100 miles from the Rockets’ home at Toyota Center in downtown Houston.
The Aggies (8-5) ultimately won the game over the Cowboys, 24-21, with the football program’s Instagram account acknowledging Capela’s support as the game drew to a close.
On the basketball court, Capela is averaging 13.9 points (64.2% shooting), 14.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 33.6 minutes per game for the Rockets (21-10) this season.
Capela wasn’t the only link between the Rockets and Aggies, though. Braden Mann — a punter and kickoff specialist who won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top collegiate punter a year ago — did his pregame workouts on the field wearing a new James Harden City jersey.
Depending on travel schedules, it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if some within the Texas A&M program enjoy an extended weekend in Houston and take in the home Rockets game Saturday night at Toyota Center against the Nets. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central.
