The Houston Rockets of the past decade have been inconsistent, and that might be an understatement. It was not that long ago (back to the peak of COVID-19) when the Rockets were NBA title contenders, having players such as James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Chris Paul to lead the charge. Sadly, those days ended as soon as they began, and the Rockets have entered into full rebuild mode, with the goal of assembling a new core. This includes the likes of Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Alperen Sengun, and others who are fighting for roster spots. Even though the Rockets are coming off of 2 forgettable seasons, I am here to tell you this team is set for a breakout…

1: Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. Duo.
One of the few upsides that came from last year was the sudden improvement of Jalen Green’s game. He had a solid rookie season, posting an average of 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. But what has Rockets fans the most excited would be his meteoric rise in the later half of the season, posting several games with 30+ points and showing some improvement in 1-on-1 situations. He also had 69 dunks, which ranked him at #1 among all NBA guards. Additionally, the Rockets have another trick up their sleeve.

Jabari Smith Jr. was drafted at number 3 overall by the Rockets, and his style of play will compliment Jalen Green nicely. Jabari is a player that doesn’t require the ball to be productive, because his large frame can prevent defenders from evading him. He can also become a perfect rebounder and defender if he just gets the work in. This means that Jalen Green will have plenty of space to be himself to reach an all-star level.

2: Kevin Porter Jr. has more experience.

Like Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr. had a great end to the season, putting up similar numbers in the last 10 games. While his career has been dominated by off-the-court actions, it seems like he has finally put all those issues past him. His fall from grace early in his career made him an afterthought for most analysts. But his strong showing later in the year might turn some heads. And the Rockets might jump at the opportunity.

There are rumors going around that the Rockets are trying to extend Porter, and I believe they should. The talent has always been there, and he’s posted several videos of his workout routine on Instagram. From the looks of it, he’s put all the non-basketball issues that plagued him in the rearview mirror, and he should be a force to be reckoned with for the next half-decade.

3: Christian Wood out, Sengun in.

Christian Wood is a great player and great teammate, but he doesn’t fit into the playstyle. He was a player who didn’t produce enough results to warrant his contract, so the Rockets shipped him to Dallas. While his return was fruitful, the best result from the trade was that Sengun – who was drafted in the first round a year ago – will have more play time.
Sengun was good, but not great last year; his lack of playing time did not give him a chance to show up. Now that Christian Wood is gone, he will be able to show the Rockets that they made the right choice. His commanding presence in the paint gives defenders a tough job, and to make matters worse, Sengun was shooting from mid-range and was laying down buckets almost at ease in the Eurobasket tournament for Turkey.

Jalen Green, Jabari Smith, Kevin Porter, and Alperen Sengun make up the next era of Rockets basketball, and this group has a chance to surprise many next year. And I will be the first to say it. The chances of the Rockets making the postseason are slim. I am optimistic, but it doesn’t look good. However, if all goes well, the Rockets could be dangerous in 2024. And maybe, just maybe, the rebuild that started only a few years ago is finally coming to an end.