The Houston Rockets are 0-3 to start the new NBA season, and they’re still very early in a rebuilding process that started two years ago when they traded both Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
After also trading one of their best players from last season, Christian Wood, over the summer, one may think there is no reason to pay any attention to them this year.
However, the Rockets have a few young, intriguing prospects who could become stars not too long from now, and fans should keep tabs on these three men in particular:
1. Kevin Porter Jr.
Kevin Porter Jr., a 6-foot-4 combo guard, hasn’t really panned out during his first three NBA seasons, but he has shown some flashes of his potential.
Last season, he averaged 15.6 points and 6.2 assists while improving his outside shooting to the tune of hitting 37.5 percent from 3-point range.
In the first three games of this campaign, the Seattle-area native is putting up 19.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game while shooting a white-hot 52.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Kevin Porter Jr. finds Jalen Green 💪😤 pic.twitter.com/PdqEHagsLM
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) October 23, 2022
Maturity will be key for him, as he has been involved in a few incidents on and off the court since entering the league.
2. Jalen Green
Jalen Green, the No. 2 pick in last year’s NBA Draft, is thought to be dripping with potential.
At 6-foot-4, he is a gunner, and he has plenty of athleticism, as well as the skills to break off defenders in a half-court setting.
Jalen Green shook Jrue 😨 pic.twitter.com/DILmlM1r09
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 23, 2022
Green can be streaky, but so far this season he’s averaging 23.7 points per game while hitting an outstanding 47.4 percent from downtown.
3. Jabari Smith Jr.
Jabari Smith Jr. was the third overall pick in June’s draft, and he is thought to have the potential to be a good defender and outside shooter.
He hasn’t produced much yet this year, but some have compared his skill set and potential to that of Chris Bosh, an 11-time All-Star.
NEXT: Rockets Giving Former First-Round Pick Another Chance