Ben DuBose
October 17, 2021 10:45 am CT
With a marketing slogan “Light the Fuse,” the Rockets are embracing what most around the NBA view as a rebuilding season. Headlined by four first-round picks from the 2021 NBA draft, Houston’s roster features a significant amount of young talent that needs playing time to develop, starting with Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr. and Alperen Sengun.
Given that youth, the expectations around the league for wins in 2021-22 are minimal for the Rockets. Yet, given those types of prospects, there are still obvious reasons to follow the team in the new season as Houston looks to work its way back into contention in the years ahead.
While playing prospects is a clear priority, the Rockets still appreciate veterans who can guide those players and assist in their development, both on and off the court. Veteran guard John Wall isn’t expected to play, but he will be around the team on a daily basis. Accomplished veterans Eric Gordon, Daniel Theis, Christian Wood, Danuel House Jr. and DJ Augustin will be part of the immediate rotation for head coach Stephen Silas, who enters his second year at the helm.
Houston’s regular season begins on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at Minnesota. Entering that game, here’s a look at the roster that second-year general manager Rafael Stone has put together for the Rockets. All height and weight information is according to the team’s published data, and ages reflect the status of each player entering the 2021-22 regular season.
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Kevin Porter Jr.
Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via AP
Prior to NBA, home country: University of Southern California (USC)
Position, size: Guard, 6-foot-4, 203 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 21 years old, 2 seasons
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22:12.2 points (43.4% FG, 32.3% on 3-pointers), 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds in 26.3 minutes per game
Jalen Green
AP Photo/Michael Wyke
Prior to NBA, home country: G League Ignite, USA
Position, size: Guard, 6-foot-6, 178 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 19 years old, Rookie
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22:none
Jae'Sean Tate
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA, home country: Sydney Kings (Australia); The Ohio State University, USA
Position, size: Forward, 6-foot-4, 230 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 26 years old, 1 season
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22: 11.3 points (50.6% FG, 30.8% on 3-pointers), 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists in 29.2 minutes per game
Christian Wood
Troy Taormina/Pool Photo via AP
Prior to NBA, home country: University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), USA
Position, size: Forward/center, 6-foot-10, 223 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 26 years old, 5 seasons
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22: 12.6 points (53.1% FG, 37.1% on 3-pointers), 6.1 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game
Daniel Theis
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA, home country: Brose Bamberg (Germany), Germany
Position, wize: Forward/center, 6-foot-8, 245 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 29 years old, 4 seasons
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22: 7.5 points (55.0% FG, 33.5% on 3-pointers), 4.9 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game
Eric Gordon
Carmen Mandato/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA, home country: University of Indiana, USA
Position, size: Guard, 6-foot-3, 215 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 32 years old, 13 seasons
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22: 16.6 points (42.5% FG, 36.8% on 3-pointers), 2.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds in 32.6 minutes per game
Danuel House Jr.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA, home country: Texas A&M University, USA
Position, size: Forward, 6-foot-6, 215 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 28 years old, 5 seasons
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22: 9.2 points (43.1% FG, 36.4% on 3-pointers), 3.8 rebounds in 26.1 minutes per game
DJ Augustin
Darren Yamash*ta-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA, home country: University of Texas, USA
Position, size: Guard, 6-foot-0, 183 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 33 years old, 13 seasons
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22: 9.7 points (41.1% FG, 37.9% on 3-pointers), 4.0 assists in 23.9 minutes per game
KJ Martin
Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA, home country: IMG Academy, USA
Position, size: Forward, 6-foot-7, 215 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 20 years old, 1 season
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22: 9.3 points (50.9% FG, 36.5% on 3-pointers), 5.4 rebounds, 0.9 blocks in 23.7 minutes per game
Alperen Sengun
AP Photo/John Locher
Prior to NBA, home country: Besiktas (Turkey), Turkey
Position, size: Center, 6-foot-9, 235 pounds
Age, NBA Experience: 19 years old, rookie
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22: none
David Nwaba
AP Photo/Eric Gay
Prior to NBA, home country: California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), USA
Position, size: Guard/forward, 6-foot-5, 219 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 28 years old, 5 seasons
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22:7.3 points (49.1% FG, 32.3% on 3-pointers), 3.7 rebounds in 20.8 minutes per game
Armoni Brooks
Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via AP
Prior to NBA, home country: University of Houston, USA
Position, size: Guard, 6-foot-3, 195 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 23 years old, 1 season
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22: 11.2 points (40.6% FG, 38.2% on 3-pointers), 3.4 rebounds in 26.0 minutes per game
Usman Garuba
Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA, home country: Real Madrid (Spain), Spain
Position, size: Forward, 6-foot-8, 220 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 19 years old, rookie
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22: none
Josh Christopher
AP Photo/Michael Wyke
Prior to NBA, home country: Arizona State University, USA
Position, size: Guard, 6-foot-5, 215 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 19 years old, rookie
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22: none
John Wall (not expected to play)
Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to NBA, home country: University of Kentucky, USA
Position, size: Guard, 6-foot-4, 210 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 31 years old, 11 seasons
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22: 19.1 points (43.1% FG, 32.3% on 3-pointers), 9.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds in 35.6 minutes per game
Daishen Nix (two-way with Rockets, G League)
Evan Buhler/The Canadian Press via AP
Prior to NBA, home country: G League Ignite, USA
Position, size: Guard, 6-foot-5, 224 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 19 years old, rookie
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22: none
Garrison Mathews (two-way with Rockets, G League)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Prior to NBA, home country: Lipscomb University, USA
Position, size: Guard, 6-foot-5, 215 pounds
Age, NBA experience: 24 years old, 2 seasons
Career NBA statistics entering 2021-22: 5.5 points (41.3% FG, 38.9% on 3-pointers), 1.4 rebounds in 15.4 minutes
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