The Houston Rockets haven’t been the best team in the league for a while now, but things are starting to change. Their distinct advantage now is their constancy. According to ESPN writer Neil Paine, the Rockets have the most returning players and the best overall output in the NBA.
Despite failing to make the playoffs last season, the Rockets improved their net rating by a substantial 9.0 points per 100 possessions. Paine highlights the Rockets’ successful approach to emerging from a tanking era.
He said, “After years of losing with one of the youngest teams in the NBA (mean age 25.9), the Rockets also provided a potential blueprint for how teams should emerge from a tanking era, with a mix of savvy veterans (VanVleet) and young players coming into their own (Green, Sengun, Thompson).”
Paine further added about their upward trend, “Houston will look to continue this upward trend this season, as the Rockets bring back each of their top 12 WAR earners — a group that represents 76% of the franchise’s three-year weighted minutes played and a whopping 94% of its three-year weighted WAR.”
Paine thinks their ability to retain key players and improve their performance is a positive sign for the franchise’s future.
Houston Rockets to kick off 2024 NBA training camp in new facility
The Houston Rockets are set to kick off the 2024-25 NBA season with a fresh start at their new training facility. For the first time in years, the team will hold their training camp in Houston, Texas, at their brand-new, $70 million facility.
Situated just north of the Post Oak Hotel on the I-610 circle, this 75,000-square-foot property is just a 10-minute drive from the Toyota Center. It has everything a basketball operating team might want: two complete courts, locker facilities, a weight facility, meeting spaces, and offices.
With this new upgrade, the Houston Rockets are aiming to gain an edge this season. As we get closer to the start of training camp, the roster is expected to be published in the coming weeks.
