The Rockets 2020-21 season mercifully came to an end on Sunday night, and while one might think it would be hard to come up with any positives from a 17-55 season that finished 6-45 over the final 51 games, but I went through almost everyone of significance and came up with something positive about what they accomplished over the course of the season.
Stephen Silas
I have no idea if Silas will turn into a successful NBA head coach, but I do know he checks every box. He has a wonderful basketball mind with a sense for creativity on both ends of the floor, he prepares like crazy, he understands the importance of building relationships with his players, and he presents a calm demeanor on the sideline. He's going to have to win some games at some point, but for a brief three week stretch you saw what he was capable of with a real NBA roster.
Christian Wood
When Wood was on the floor showed he showed he could be a real difference maker on both ends of the floor. On offense, he proved to be a threat from everywhere, whether it was as a shooter, a finisher or even a passer. On the defensive side of the court his presence allowed the Rockets to play multiple schemes each night. He was a great rim protector in their base, drop coverage, he could survive against anyone on switches, and he had the lateral movement to trap pick and rolls and get back to his original man. The fun part about Wood is that he wants to get better every single day, and enjoys the pressure that comes with being the face of a franchise.
John Wall
It's hard to imagine Wall ever gets back to his peak, but playing NBA basketball for the first time in two years he flashed the ability that made him a 5-time All Star. He showed the burst that made him a feared point guard in the open floor. He displayed an understanding of how to run an NBA offense that very few guys have and he built a very strong relationship with Silas that always led to Wall giving his head coach a point whenever he drew up a play the Rockets point guard was able to execute.
Jae'Sean Tate
It was a surprise when Silas chose Tate to start the Rockets first preseason games in Chicago, but it was a sign of what was to come. After spending two years playing in Europe and Australia, Tate became the most reliable player on an NBA team. Along with playing the wings, he was asked to play center and point guard and handled both as well as anyone could've imagined.
Kelly Olynyk
As bad as the last two months were, imagine how bad they would've been without Olynyk. Having watched him for seven NBA seasons after he starred at Gonzaga, I thought I knew everything there was to know about the guy, but it turns I didn't. He's even more skilled than I thought and as professional as it gets. Olynyk went from a team that played in the Finals seven months ago with aspirations of going back to the worst team in the NBA. With free agency approaching, he could've been pouty, bitter, and selfish, but he was the exact opposite. He played extended minutes while injured and took on a leadership role to a bunch of kids he didn't know before his arrival. The Rockets will try to bring him back this summer, and they should.
Kevin Porter Jr.
His 50-point, 11-assist night against Jrue Holiday and the Bucks is all you need to know. The talent is there. The ability to score is there. The ability to make plays for others is there, he just has to display those skills every night. He improved as a shooter and decision maker in the short amount of time he was with the Rockets and he's just got to keep building on that.
Eric Gordon
It was a lost season for Gordon, who basically missed the entire second half because of a groin injury, but when he played, he showed an ability to carry an offense for stretches. He didn't shoot the ball from long distance, but his 43.3 percent shooting from the field was his best mark since the 2013-14 season and his 4.2 free throw attempts per game were his highest since 2012-13.
K.J. Martin
I'm not sure anyone improved more from the start of the season to the end of the season than Martin. He learned how to use his athleticism on the floor and racked up a bunch of impressive plays at the rim on both ends of the floor, and did you know he shot over 38 percent from the three-point line after returning from the G League bubble?
D.J. Augustin
Just a flat-out pro who knows how to play and knows how to carry himself. Like Olynyk, he thought he'd be getting ready for playoff games today, but showed up and competed and did everything he could to help the young guys around him. Augustin is under contract for next season and his presence will make others better.
Danuel House Jr
House had trouble shaking a back injury in the first half and an ankle injury in the second half, but when he did play he showed he's a valuable player who can fill a bunch of different roles. He's big enough to where he can guard anyone, he's a threat from long distance, and he even showed he can initiate offense if you need him to.
David Nwaba
The guy knew he was going to need wrist surgery and played anyways because the Rockets needed a body on the second night of a back-to-back. He couldn't shoot, or do anything with that hand. Does it get any more unselfish than that?
Anthony Lamb
I may have called him the worst player in the NBA at one point during the season, but in April and May he played pretty well, but he averaged 10.7 points per game of the Rockets final seven games of the season and shot over 38 percent from behind the three-point line.
Armoni Brooks
He can shoot it, and I mean, he can really shoot it. He wouldn't have been in the G League if he were two inches taller, but Brooks' high release makes it so he can get his shot off against taller players. He's not a great defender, but he'll compete at that end.
Rafael Stone
Like Silas, it's way too early to tell if Stone will be a good NBA general manager, but he and his staff showed an ability to find productive players out of nowhere, whether it was Tate in Australia, Martin in the draft, or Brooks in the G League. Acquiring Porter for nothing already looks like a huge win and the creativity he showed with the Wood sign and trade if the offseason along with the P.J. Tucker trade before the deadline was impressive. The James Harden trade is how his season will be remembered, but he made quality moves around the fringes.
