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Houston Rockets
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Dwight Howard Has Honest Admission About Time With James Harden
Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/dwight-howard-has-honest-admission-about-time-with-james-harden/
(Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
One of Dwight Howard’s many stops during his NBA career was the Houston Rockets, where he played for three seasons starting in 2013.
During that time, he played alongside James Harden, who was doing incredible things.
Talking on “7PM In Brooklyn,” Howard opened up about his relationship with Harden and how it didn’t pan out like he expected.
During his three seasons with the Rockets, Howard averaged 16.0 points and 11.7 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Harden put up 29.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 7.7 assists during his nine seasons in Houston.
Harden was at his peak during that time and constantly in the running for MVP, winning once in 2017-18.
The goal was for Harden and Howard to work together and lead the team to new heights and possibly a championship.
When they joined up together, Howard imagined them both leading the team, but it soon became clear that the Rockets were Harden’s team, and Howard started to feel he didn’t have a lot of space to grow and flourish.
Following his stay with the Rockets, Howard moved on to the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, and Philadelphia 76ers.
Rockets fans fondly remember this period for the team, although they also wish the squad would have achieved more.
Howard and Harden didn’t work out as planned, and it sounds like there may still be bad blood between them.
The post Dwight Howard Has Honest Admission About Time With James Harden appeared first on The Cold Wire.
Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/dwight-howard-has-honest-admission-about-time-with-james-harden/
Houston Rockets
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Rockets Are Showing Interest In Trading For Trail Blazers Veteran
Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/rockets-are-showing-interest-in-trading-for-trail-blazers-veteran/
(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
The Houston Rockets have been a very good team all season, but the toughest stretch of the campaign is ahead.
They could use another scorer off the bench.
However, it seems like they’re also looking to bolster their frontcourt rotation.
According to a report by Evan Sidery of Forbes, the Rockets have held exploratory talks with the Portland Trail Blazers regarding the availability of Robert Williams III.
Williams has missed some time with injuries, and that has always been a concern with him.
However, he’s an outstanding defender and offensive rebounder, and he’s very efficient in limited time off the bench.
The Trail Blazers have their big man of the future in Donovan Clingan, and Deandre Ayton continues to hold on to the starting spot for now, so it could make sense for them to move on from the veteran.
As for the Rockets, they know Alperen Sengun cannot hold his own on defense for long stretches, so Williams could be of help in certain matchups.
Multiple teams could be in the mix to land a proven veteran like Williams heading toward the NBA trade deadline.
He doesn’t need many touches to be efficient, and despite being undersized, his hops and athleticism make him hard to deal with and keep away from the offensive glass.
Ime Udoka’s team may be a year or two away from real contention.
They do play outstanding team defense and thrive off their athleticism, and Williams checks both boxes and would be a seamless fit for them.
The post Rockets Are Showing Interest In Trading For Trail Blazers Veteran appeared first on The Cold Wire.
Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/rockets-are-showing-interest-in-trading-for-trail-blazers-veteran/
Houston Rockets
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Steven Adams Has Honest Admission About Amen Thompson
Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/steven-adams-has-honest-admission-about-amen-thompson/
(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
The Houston Rockets are having their best season in years, and a large part of that is due to Amen Thompson.
Now in his second season, Thompson is gaining a lot of attention for his fearlessness and jaw-dropping speed.
Thompson’s teammate, Steven Adams, is blown away by what he has seen.
According to ClutchFans, via NBACentral, Adams talked about Thompson’s speed and athleticism.
Adams said:
"One of a kind, bro. I haven't played with anyone like this. His speed is unbelievable. His second jump, first jump, is so quick off the ground. I haven't seen that type of athleticism, to be honest."
– Steven Adams on Amen Thompson
(Via @clutchfans ) pic.twitter.com/N69RIVsC5A
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 6, 2025
Watching Thompson move up and down the court really is something special.
The 21-year-old forward can weave his way through traffic and isn’t afraid of any sort of defense attempting to slow him down.
That’s why his second season is even better than his first.
He is currently averaging 12.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
The numbers only tell half the story and fans constantly marvel at his athleticism and intense speed every single game.
He has an intense drive to play well and has great energy.
NBA teams are lucky to get young talent like Thompson, and many fans imagine him as part of the Rockets for many years to come.
He’s just one of several great up-and-coming players who are making their mark on the Houston roster.
Adams has been in the league for years and has played with some of the best and fastest players in the NBA, but Thompson is having an impact on him like no one else.
The post Steven Adams Has Honest Admission About Amen Thompson appeared first on The Cold Wire.
Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/steven-adams-has-honest-admission-about-amen-thompson/
Houston Rockets
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Report: Notable Jimmy Butler Suitor Is Unlikely To Make Trade
Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/report-notable-jimmy-butler-suitor-is-unlikely-to-make-trade/
(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Houston Rockets are the clear surprise team of the 2024-25 NBA season as no one predicted they would be in this position at this juncture.
The Rockets are a young team filled with talent at every position and a head coach who’s used to coaching more experienced players.
However, Ime Udoka has done well meshing with his roster, and the players have responded with one of the team’s best starts to a regular season.
The Western Conference remains difficult to compete in, though Houston’s blend of size, athleticism and defense gives it a shot against any other team in the league.
With how many pieces and future draft picks they have, the Rockets could swing a trade for another star to accelerate their title aspirations.
However, it appears they’re not looking to trade for Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler, who appears destined to be moved.
Butler has been the center of trade talks with numerous teams linked to him, though Houston seems to value its young core enough to stay away from the veteran.
It’s a smart move for a franchise that looks to already have enough to make a deep playoff run.
The post Report: Notable Jimmy Butler Suitor Is Unlikely To Make Trade appeared first on The Cold Wire.
Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/report-notable-jimmy-butler-suitor-is-unlikely-to-make-trade/
Houston Rockets
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Kendrick Perkins Says 1 Team Is Gonna Get ‘Smoked’ In NBA Cup Game
Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/kendrick-perkins-says-1-team-is-gonna-get-smoked-in-nba-cup-game/
(Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
The NBA Cup has come down to the final four teams, with games now set to be played in Las Vegas, Nevada, over the weekend.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks are the four teams left standing in this tournament, with three out of these four teams being potential NBA title contenders along with being in contention to win the second NBA Cup in league history.
Ahead of the semifinals set to be played on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, the Thunder are heavily favored to come out on top and lift the NBA Cup when it is all said and done in Las Vegas.
On Saturday, the Thunder will go head-to-head against the upstart Houston Rockets at T-Mobile Arena in the late game, with few believing Ime Udoka’s squad can come out on top against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and company.
Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins thinks there’s no way Houston will be able to contend with Oklahoma City on Saturday via NBA on ESPN.
"OKC is going to smoke Houston."@KendrickPerkins believes the Thunder will dominate the Rockets and advance to the NBA Cup Finals
pic.twitter.com/Yg7zotJDBo
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 12, 2024
Ahead of Saturday’s matchup against the Rockets, the Thunder are tied for the second-best record in the league with the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics at 19-5 while also sitting atop the Western Conference standings, winning eight out of their last 10 games.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Thunder can continue to play at a high level during the rest of this tournament and give the Rockets a run for their money this weekend.
The post Kendrick Perkins Says 1 Team Is Gonna Get ‘Smoked’ In NBA Cup Game appeared first on The Cold Wire.
Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/kendrick-perkins-says-1-team-is-gonna-get-smoked-in-nba-cup-game/
Houston Rockets
Just Drafted
Fred VanVleet Names Top-5 Undrafted Players In NBA History
Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/fred-vanvleet-names-top-5-undrafted-players-in-nba-history/
(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Few players in the NBA who go undrafted and are fortunate enough to get signed by a team have success on the professional level, as it takes some luck to be in the right situation in order to put their skills on display.
However, occasionally, a player can get in that ideal situation on an NBA team and seize the moment, proving they belong on the professional level and are capable of making an impact on the basketball floor on a consistent basis.
One player who is a perfect example of that in the NBA right now is Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet, as he has been able to put together a successful career in the league, resulting in winning an NBA title with the Toronto Raptors and securing a lucrative long-term deal with the Rockets last year.
During an appearance on Draymond Green’s podcast, VanVleet was asked to name the top five undrafted players in league history, and he had some interesting answers, going with John Starks, Ben Wallace, Udonis Haslem, Bruce Bowen and Avery Johnson via ClutchPoints.
1. John Starks
2. Ben Wallace
3. Udonis Haslem
4. Bruce Bowen
5. Avery Johnson
Fred VanVleet names his top 5 undrafted players in NBA history
(via @DraymondShow)pic.twitter.com/Uay62lrsvo
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 6, 2024
That is a pretty solid list of undrafted players who became some of the best role players in league history, with some teams that are more often than not willing to take chances on players, like the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat, and San Antonio Spurs.
As for VanVleet, he could make this list from other players’ perspective down the line, as he’s put together a nice resume himself, which might continue to get bolstered in Houston in the years to come.
The post Fred VanVleet Names Top-5 Undrafted Players In NBA History appeared first on The Cold Wire.
Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/fred-vanvleet-names-top-5-undrafted-players-in-nba-history/