The Houston Rockets released their 2022-23 season schedule on Wednesday with an innovative video featuring players, coaches and executives. Online reviews of the team’s clever and hilarious marketing promotion were quite positive.
The video features rookies Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and TyTy Washington — all selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft — acting as Toyota Center office workers in their first day on the job.
The rookies are mentored in the film by veteran guard Eric Gordon and second-year prospect Josh Christopher. General manager Rafael Stone and head coach Stephen Silas made cameo appearances, and players who weren’t in Houston like Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr. and Alperen Sengun took part by Zoom video.
Throughout the seven-minute film, schedule dates showing when various NBA opponents will visit Toyota Center are shown in the office background. For fans, the Rockets are offering a video quiz on their mobile app, with those who successfully answer questions regarding clues in the video entered into a drawing for free tickets.
Scroll on for a look at the complete video, followed by reaction from fans, media, and consumers in Houston and beyond.
Rockets schedule reveal was very entertaining. Lots of subtle and not subtle jokes and references along the way. Eric Gordon with a particularly compelling acting performance. https://t.co/0lx44cK3OP
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) August 17, 2022
By now, you've seen the Rockets' seven-minute schedule release video. I pulled out the five best moments. Spoiler alert: One of them is just Josh Christopher's whole vibe. https://t.co/43Hp5amvfb via @houstonchron
— Matt Young (@Chron_MattYoung) August 17, 2022
The #Rockets digital department is top-2, and they aren't two.
That video was awesome.
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) August 17, 2022
Give us the Oscar now !!!!!!!! https://t.co/HBafZEPK3m
— Josh(ua) Christopher (@Jaygup23) August 17, 2022
Eric Gordon watching a clip of himself cooking LeBron in the #Rockets schedule release is everything we need.
Cc @BenDuBose pic.twitter.com/MWCNBNnGz1
— Matthew Cardenas (@Matt__Card) August 17, 2022
OMG I JUST NOTICED THE FUN METER ON THE WALL
I am deceased https://t.co/1xg09RnRBC
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) August 17, 2022
Underrated part of this video:
John Lucas holding the Zoom camera at his chest the whole time 😭😂 https://t.co/yONNzRo1M5
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) August 17, 2022
I’m tryna be in a movie. Y’all hit me!!💯💯🤣 https://t.co/EvMVlWAV4Z
— Jabari Smith Jr (@jabarismithjr) August 17, 2022
When Eric Gordon listens to @LockedOnRockets pic.twitter.com/jJtsEZevr2
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) August 17, 2022
Coming to clamp your favorite player https://t.co/z0PKWLcpfb pic.twitter.com/xsi6Hg674E
— Rob Kimbell (@RobKSports) August 17, 2022
Finally seeing this.
Bravo, @HoustonRockets creative team! https://t.co/traZZIyFXK
— David Weiner (@BimaThug) August 17, 2022
This was a really fun project to be a part of.
A great example of collaboration on multiple levels within sports marketing.
The journey that leads to content creation is often forgotten, but when you get it right and work as a team it results in exceptional content. 👏 https://t.co/ik1kg9q5cu
— Hiren Joshi (@htown747) August 17, 2022
We need to get these dudes signed in Hollywood ASAP! I’ll make some calls @HoustonRockets 🤣👏🏽 https://t.co/hrQZOOLjqG
— Rico Rodriguez (@StarringRico) August 17, 2022
@jabarismithjr you’re a natural 🤣
You know we’ll be tuning in! 👀#WarEagle https://t.co/627JDN6YoR
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) August 17, 2022
My @HoustonRockets might not win the most games this year, but our team makes better videos than your team.
This is 🔥. No notes.
(And how likable is this young squad?! So. Fired. Up.) https://t.co/1GF19dpSTF
— Jeff Wilser (@jeffwilser) August 17, 2022
Incredible to see this piece go from ideation to completion.
A huge collaboration among the entire @HoustonRockets creative team!
Ecstatic to be a part of this project 👏 https://t.co/FqhOexeAEI
— Hannah Peery (@HannahPeery) August 17, 2022
@goldenglobes Stop the count and give them the 10 thousand dollars https://t.co/En2cLnAyUh
— Apathetic (@ftank58) August 17, 2022
The @HoustonRockets digi/soci/content team outchea having fun again! 👏🏾
And shout out to @Jaygup23 @TheofficialEG10 @jabarismithjr @TAR13ASON @tytywashington3 @RafaelStone12 @clutchthebear and the squad for Emmy worthy performances!😂 🏆🤘🏾🚀🏀🔥#rocketstwitter#marketingtwitter https://t.co/5S88EvTfIm— Julian Duncan (@jdhtown) August 17, 2022
They made this a mini movie lol. Love it https://t.co/LTBhCjIMOS
— Tyler Soto (@HeavyTonair) August 17, 2022
Best schedule release by far… https://t.co/yCy737H26r
— Steven Barnhart (@HWHoopsCentral) August 17, 2022
Eric Gordon Oscar campaign starts now https://t.co/DpLDZexh7U
— karlee worthen (@kar__lee) August 17, 2022
EG and that damn Lebron highlight 😂😭 https://t.co/Ay57JXR4IM
— Del (@TweeterDel) August 17, 2022
W VIDEO W ADMIN W TEAM W FRANCHISE https://t.co/JDwxGtlXBp
— Coy 🚀 (@WickedCoy) August 17, 2022
John Lucas holding the camera sideways is perfect, lol. https://t.co/aq1YKvTlt2
— Andrew Soukup (@asoukuptx) August 17, 2022
This has to be the coolest schedule release an nba team has done before https://t.co/Vpu3luK9dc
— Bray🌹 | Jabari SZN (@MossedByMetchie) August 17, 2022
"My advice to you is to not put anything stupid on Twitter."
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) August 17, 2022
