2023–24 Houston Rockets season explained

Team:	Houston Rockets
End Year:	2024
Wins:	41
Losses:	41
Division:	Southwest
Division Place:	3
Conf Place:	11
Playoffs:	Did not qualify
Coach:	Ime Udoka
Gm:	Rafael Stone
President:	Gretchen Sheirr
Owner:	Tilman Fertitta
Arena:	Toyota Center
Television:	Space City Home Network
Radio:	Sportstalk 790
Bbr Team:	HOU

The 2023–24 Houston Rockets season was the 57th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and 53rd season in the city of Houston.^[1]

On April 10, 2023, the Houston Rockets fired head coach Stephen Silas after three rebuilding seasons with the team.^[2] Two weeks later, the Rockets hired Ime Udoka as their new head coach, looking to contend for the playoffs.^{[3] [4]} After starting out 0–3 in October, the Rockets had a six-game winning streak to start out November.

The Rockets entered the month of March with a 27–34 record and stood at 11th place in the Western Conference. Despite losing breakout player Alperen Şengün to injury, the Rockets won 13 of their next 14 games, including an 11-game winning streak buoyed by career-best performances from star Jalen Green alongside one-time all-star Fred VanVleet and rookie Amen Thompson, which allowed them to rise to contention for the play-in tournament. Their improved 38–35 record had them trail the Golden State Warriors by one game back from the #10-seed, but afterwards the Rockets fell into a five-game losing streak as the Warriors went on a winning streak of their own, resulting in their elimination from playoff contention for the fourth consecutive season following an overtime loss to the Dallas Mavericks on April 7. The Rockets would finish the season with a 41–41 record, finishing with a non-losing season for the first time in four years.

Draft

See main article: 2023 NBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College / Club
1	4	Amen Thompson	Point guard		City Reapers (Overtime Elite)
1	20	Cam Whitmore	Small forward		Villanova

The Rockets entered the draft with two first round picks and no second round selections.^[5] For their first pick at four, the Rockets selected point guard Amen Thompson from Overtime Elite's City Reapers team, being the organization's first ever draft pick entering the NBA. With their pick at 20, Houston selected small forward Cam Whitmore, who won the Big East Conference's Freshman of the Year Award for his only season at Villanova University. Before the draft, Whitmore was widely regarded to be a lottery pick with some projections placing him as high as fourth overall.^{[6] [7] [8] [9]}

Roster

Standings

Conference

Game log

Preseason

|- style="background:#cfc"| 1| October 10| Indiana| | Alperen Şengün (15)| Amen Thompson (9)| Şengün, VanVleet (4)| Toyota Center
12,680| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc"| 2| October 12| @ New Orleans| | Jabari Smith Jr. (22)| Jabari Smith Jr. (9)| Holiday, Şengün, Thompson, VanVleet (4)| Legacy Arena
11,589| 2–0|- style="background:#cfc"| 3| October 16| @ San Antonio| | Thompson, Whitmore (15)| Holiday, Smith Jr. (9)| Aaron Holiday (6)| Frost Bank Center
16,030| 3–0|- style="background:#fcc"| 4| October 18| @ San Antonio| | Jabari Smith Jr. (20)| Jeenathan Williams (8)| Amen Thompson (4)| Frost Bank Center
17,236| 3–1|- style="background:#cfc"| 5| October 20| Miami| | Ja. Green, VanVleet (20)| Alperen Şengün (12)| Fred VanVleet (6)| Toyota Center
18,055| 4–1

Regular season

|- style="background:#fcc"| 1| October 25| @ Orlando| | Brooks, Şengün, VanVleet (14)| Alperen Şengün (8)| Alperen Şengün (6)| Amway Center
18,846| 0–1|- style="background:#fcc"| 2| October 27| @ San Antonio| | Alperen Şengün (25)| Alperen Şengün (14)| Fred VanVleet (12)| Frost Bank Center
18,354| 0–2|- style="background:#fcc"| 3| October 29| Golden State| | Jalen Green (21)| Jalen Green (9)| Alperen Şengün (7)| Toyota Center
18,055| 0–3|- style="background:#cfc"| 4| November 1| Charlotte| | Jalen Green (23)| Alperen Şengün (7)| Fred VanVleet (11)| Toyota Center
16,263| 1–3|- style="background:#cfc"| 5| November 4| Sacramento| | Dillon Brooks (26)| Jabari Smith Jr. (11)| Fred VanVleet (12)| Toyota Center
18,055| 2–3|- style="background:#cfc"| 6| November 6| Sacramento| | Jalen Green (23)| Alperen Şengün (8)| Alperen Şengün (12)| Toyota Center
15,130| 3–3|- style="background:#cfc"| 7| November 8| L.A. Lakers| | Jalen Green (28)| Tari Eason (9)| Fred VanVleet (10)| Toyota Center
18,055| 4–3|- style="background:#cfc"| 8| November 10| New Orleans| | Jalen Green (25)| Eason, Şengün (8)| Fred VanVleet (8)| Toyota Center
16,236| 5–3|- style="background:#cfc"| 9| November 12| Denver| | Fred VanVleet (26)| Ja. Green, Şengün (8)| Ja. Green, Şengün (5)| Toyota Center
18,055| 6–3|- style="background:#fcc"| 10| November 17| @ L.A. Clippers| | Alperen Şengün (23)| Şengün, VanVleet (8)| Fred VanVleet (10)| Crypto.com Arena
19,370| 6–4|- style="background:#fcc"| 11| November 19| @ L.A. Lakers| | Dillon Brooks (24)| Alperen Şengün (10)| Fred VanVleet (16)| Crypto.com Arena
18,997| 6–5|- style="background:#fcc"| 12| November 20| @ Golden State| | Alperen Şengün (30)| Alperen Şengün (13)| Fred VanVleet (14)| Chase Center
18,064| 6–6|- style="background:#cfc"| 13| November 22| Memphis| | Jalen Green (34)| Smith Jr., Tate (9)| Ja. Green, Tate, VanVleet (4)| Toyota Center
18,055| 7–6|- style="background:#cfc"| 14| November 24| Denver| | Jalen Green (25)| Şengün, Smith Jr. (15)| Fred VanVleet (11)| Toyota Center
18,055| 8–6|- style="background:#fcc"| 15| November 28| @ Dallas| | Alperen Şengün (31)| Şengün, Smith Jr. (9)| Fred VanVleet (12)| American Airlines Center
20,103| 8–7|- style="background:#fcc"| 16| November 29| @ Denver| | Jalen Green (26)| Şengün, Smith Jr. (7)| Jalen Green (9)| Ball Arena
19,590| 8–8|- style="background:#fcc"| 17| December 2| @ L.A. Lakers| | Fred VanVleet (22)| Alperen Şengün (13)| Fred VanVleet (7)| Crypto.com Arena
18,997| 8–9|- style="background:#cfc"| 18| December 6| Oklahoma City| | Dillon Brooks (23)| Jabari Smith Jr. (18)| Fred VanVleet (9)| Toyota Center
16,291| 9–9|- style="background:#cfc"| 19| December 8| @ Denver| | Fred VanVleet (26)| Şengün, Smith Jr. (10)| Alperen Şengün (7)| Ball Arena
19,544| 10–9|- style="background:#cfc"| 20| December 11| San Antonio| | Tari Eason (18)| Tari Eason (14)| Smith Jr., VanVleet (5)| Toyota Center
16,481| 11–9|- style="background:#cfc"| 21| December 13| Memphis| | Tari Eason (25)| Tari Eason (14)| Fred VanVleet (9)| Toyota Center
16,813| 12–9|- style="background:#cfc"| 22| December 15| @ Memphis| | Dillon Brooks (26)| Jabari Smith Jr. (12)| Fred VanVleet (8)| FedExForum
16,941| 13–9|- style="background:#fcc"| 23| December 17| @ Milwaukee| | Fred VanVleet (22)| Alperen Şengün (8)| Jalen Green (7)| Fiserv Forum
17,341| 13–10|- style="background:#fcc"| 24| December 18| @ Cleveland| | Fred VanVleet (27)| Eason, Şengün, VanVleet (8)| Fred VanVleet (17)| Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
19,432| 13–11|- style="background:#fcc"| 25| December 20| Atlanta| | Jabari Smith Jr. (34)| Jabari Smith Jr. (13)| Fred VanVleet (15)| Toyota Center
18,055| 13–12|- style="background:#cfc"| 26| December 22| Dallas| | Alperen Şengün (22)| Alperen Şengün (15)| Green, Thompson, VanVleet (4)| Toyota Center
18,055| 14–12|- style="background:#cfc"| 27| December 23| @ New Orleans| | Alperen Şengün (37)| Şengün, Smith Jr. (11)| Alperen Şengün (6)| Smoothie King Center
17,399| 15–12|- style="background:#fcc"| 28| December 26| Indiana| | Alperen Şengün (30)| Alperen Şengün (16)| Fred VanVleet (9)| Toyota Center
18,055| 15–13|- style="background:#fcc"| 29| December 27| Phoenix| | Alperen Şengün (24)| three players (5)| Fred VanVleet (6)| Toyota Center
18,055| 15–14|- style="background:#fcc"| 30| December 29| Philadelphia| | Fred VanVleet (33)| Tari Eason (11)| Fred VanVleet (10)| Toyota Center
18,055| 15–15|- style="background:#cfc"| 31| January 1| Detroit| | Alperen Şengün (26)| Jabari Smith Jr. (6)| Alperen Şengün (9)| Toyota Center
18,055| 16–15|- style="background:#cfc"| 32| January 3| Brooklyn| | Alperen Şengün (30)| Jabari Smith Jr. (12)| Fred VanVleet (10)| Toyota Center
16,563| 17–15|- style="background:#fcc"| 33| January 5| Minnesota| | Jalen Green (20)| Jabari Smith Jr. (9)| Fred VanVleet (8)| Toyota Center
18,055| 17–16|- style="background:#cfc"| 34| January 6| Milwaukee| | Alperen Şengün (21)| Jabari Smith Jr. (12)| Fred VanVleet (7)| Toyota Center
18,055| 18–16|- style="background:#fcc"| 35| January 8| @ Miami| | Fred VanVleet (32)| Alperen Şengün (11)| Fred VanVleet (7)| Kaseya Center
19,694| 18–17|- style="background:#fcc"| 36| January 10| @ Chicago| | Alperen Şengün (25)| Jabari Smith Jr. (15)| Fred VanVleet (10)| United Center
21,149| 18–18|- style="background:#cfc"| 37| January 12| @ Detroit| | Alperen Şengün (29)| Jabari Smith Jr. (11)| Fred VanVleet (12)| Little Caesars Arena
13,987| 19–18|- style="background:#fcc"| 38| January 13| @ Boston| | Cam Whitmore (22)| Şengün, Thompson (10)| Fred VanVleet (7)| TD Garden
19,156| 19–19|- style="background:#fcc"| 39| January 15| @ Philadelphia| | Jalen Green (20)| Alperen Şengün (9)| Alperen Şengün (6)| Wells Fargo Center
20,822| 19–20|- style="background:#fcc"| 40| January 17| @ New York| | Fred VanVleet (24)| Alperen Şengün (10)| Fred VanVleet (12)| Madison Square Garden
19,439| 19–21|- style="background:#cfc"| 41| January 20| Utah| | Alperen Şengün (37)| Alperen Şengün (14)| Fred VanVleet (7)| Toyota Center
16,618| 20–21|- style="background:#fcc"| 42| January 21| Boston| | Dillon Brooks (25)| Amen Thompson (14)| Alperen Şengün (10)| Toyota Center
18,055| 20–22|- style="background:#fcc"| 43| January 24| Portland| | Alperen Şengün (30)| Alperen Şengün (10)| Alperen Şengün (8)| Toyota Center
18,055| 20–23|- style="background:#cfc"| 44| January 26| @ Charlotte| | Jalen Green (36)| Cam Whitmore (11)| Amen Thompson (8)| Spectrum Center
16,164| 21–23|- style="background:#fcc"| 45| January 27| @ Brooklyn| | Brooks, Ja. Green, Whitmore (19)| Alperen Şengün (11)| Fred VanVleet (8)| Barclays Center
17,732| 21–24|- style="background:#cfc"| 46| January 29| L.A. Lakers| | Jalen Green (34)| Ja. Green, Şengün (12)| Fred VanVleet (14)| Toyota Center
18,055| 22–24|- style="background:#fcc"| 47| January 31| New Orleans| | Jalen Green (31)| Alperen Şengün (10)| Şengün, VanVleet (5)| Toyota Center
18,055| 22–25|- style="background:#cfc"| 48| February 2| Toronto| | Cam Whitmore (25)| Alperen Şengün (13)| Alperen Şengün (8)| Toyota Center
18,055| 23–25|- style="background:#fcc"| 49| February 4| @ Minnesota| | Alperen Şengün (15)| Alperen Şengün (10)| Jalen Green (7)| Target Center
18,024| 23–26|- style="background:#fcc"| 50| February 6| @ Indiana| | Jalen Green (30)| Amen Thompson (13)| Şengün, Thompson (6)| Gainbridge Fieldhouse
15,571| 23–27|- style="background:#fcc"| 51| February 9| @ Toronto| | Dillon Brooks (20)| Jabari Smith Jr. (10)| Aaron Holiday (5)| Scotiabank Arena
19,800| 23–28|- style="background:#fcc"| 52| February 10| @ Atlanta| | Jalen Green (26)| Jalen Green (14)| Jalen Green (10)| State Farm Arena
17,503| 23–29|- style="background:#cfc"| 53| February 12| New York| | Dillon Brooks (23)| Amen Thompson (13)| Alperen Şengün (6)| Toyota Center
16,790| 24–29|- style="background:#fcc"| 54| February 14| @ Memphis| | four players (19)| Amen Thompson (12)| Alperen Şengün (6)| FedExForum
15,012| 24–30|- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Game|- style="background:#fcc"| 55| February 22| @ New Orleans| | Amen Thompson (22)| Alperen Şengün (9)| Fred VanVleet (6)| Smoothie King Center
17,421| 24–31|- style="background:#cfc"| 56| February 23| Phoenix| | Fred VanVleet (23)| Jabari Smith Jr. (16)| Fred VanVleet (5)| Toyota Center
18,055| 25–31|- style="background:#fcc"| 57| February 25| Oklahoma City| | Smith Jr., VanVleet (20)| Jabari Smith Jr. (17)| Ja. Green, Smith Jr. (4)| Toyota Center
18,055| 25–32|- style="background:#fcc"| 58| February 27| @ Oklahoma City| | Alperen Şengün (23)| Jabari Smith Jr. (13)| Alperen Şengün (6)| Paycom Center
17,164| 25–33|- style="background:#fcc"| 59| February 29| @ Phoenix| | Jalen Green (34)| Jabari Smith Jr. (16)| Fred VanVleet (5)| Footprint Center
17,071| 25–34|- style="background:#cfc"| 60| March 2| @ Phoenix| | Jalen Green (34)| Alperen Şengün (10)| Fred VanVleet (11)| Footprint Center
17,071| 26–34|- style="background:#cfc"| 61| March 5| San Antonio| | Alperen Şengün (45)| Alperen Şengün (16)| Fred VanVleet (10)| Toyota Center
16,734| 27–34|- style="background:#fcc"| 62| March 6| L.A. Clippers| | Alperen Şengün (23)| Alperen Şengün (19)| Alperen Şengün (14)| Toyota Center
17,033| 27–35|- style="background:#cfc"| 63| March 8| @ Portland| | Jalen Green (27)| Şengün, Smith Jr. (9)| Fred VanVleet (10)| Moda Center
18,139| 28–35|- style="background:#cfc"| 64| March 10| @ Sacramento| | Fred VanVleet (22)| Jabari Smith Jr. (11)| Fred VanVleet (9)| Golden 1 Center
18,022| 29–35|- style="background:#cfc"| 65| March 12| @ San Antonio| | Fred VanVleet (21)| Jabari Smith Jr. (9)| Fred VanVleet (7)| Frost Bank Center
18,751| 30–35|- style="background:#cfc"| 66| March 14| Washington| | Jalen Green (37)| Amen Thompson (10)| Fred VanVleet (9)| Toyota Center
18,055| 31–35|- style="background:#cfc"| 67| March 16| Cleveland| | Jalen Green (26)| Jalen Green (11)| Fred VanVleet (16)| Toyota Center
18,055| 32–35|- style="background:#cfc"| 68| March 19| @ Washington| | Jalen Green (42)| Jabari Smith Jr. (14)| Fred VanVleet (11)| Capital One Arena
14,137| 33–35|- style="background:#cfc"| 69| March 21| Chicago| | Jalen Green (26)| Jock Landale (12)| Fred VanVleet (12)| Toyota Center
17,016| 34–35|- style="background:#cfc"| 70| March 23| Utah| | Jalen Green (41)| Amen Thompson (10)| Fred VanVleet (7)| Toyota Center
18,055| 35–35|- style="background:#cfc"| 71| March 25| Portland| | Jalen Green (27)| Landale, Thompson (9)| Holiday, VanVleet (4)| Toyota Center
16,537| 36–35|- style="background:#cfc"| 72| March 27| @ Oklahoma City| | Jalen Green (37)| Amen Thompson (15)| Jalen Green (7)| Paycom Center
17,438| 37–35|- style="background:#cfc"| 73| March 29| @ Utah| | Jalen Green (34)| Amen Thompson (14)| Green, VanVleet (6)| Delta Center
18,206| 38–35|- style="background:#fcc"| 74| March 31| Dallas| | Jabari Smith Jr. (28)| Smith Jr., Thompson (7)| Fred VanVleet (7)| Toyota Center
18,055| 38–36|- style="background:#fcc"| 75| April 2| @ Minnesota| | Jalen Green (26)| Amen Thompson (9)| Jalen Green (6)| Target Center
18,024| 38–37|- style="background:#fcc"| 76| April 4| Golden State| | Jabari Smith Jr. (24)| Jock Landale (6)| Fred VanVleet (9)| Toyota Center
18,055| 38–38|- style="background:#fcc"| 77| April 5| Miami| | Jalen Green (21)| Jabari Smith Jr. (8)| Fred VanVleet (8)| Toyota Center
18,055| 38–39|- style="background:#fcc"| 78| April 7| @ Dallas| | Dillon Brooks (29)| Jabari Smith Jr. (9)| Fred VanVleet (12)| American Airlines Center
20,317| 38–40|- style="background:#cfc"| 79| April 9| Orlando| | Fred VanVleet (37)| Thompson, VanVleet (8)| Fred VanVleet (6)| Toyota Center
18,055| 39–40|- style="background:#fcc"| 80| April 11| @ Utah| | Fred VanVleet (42)| Amen Thompson (10)| Fred VanVleet (7)| Delta Center
18,206| 39–41|- style="background:#cfc"| 81| April 12| @ Portland| | Jalen Green (26)| Amen Thompson (15)| Amen Thompson (6)| Moda Center
18,630| 40–41|- style="background:#cfc"| 82| April 14| @ L.A. Clippers| | Cam Whitmore (21)| Amen Thompson (11)| Amen Thompson (10)| Crypto.com Arena
19,370| 41–41

In-Season Tournament

See main article: 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament. This was the first regular season where all the NBA teams competed in a mid-season tournament setting due to the implementation of the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament.^{[10] [11]} During the in-season tournament period, the Rockets competed in Group B of the Western Conference, which included the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Clippers, the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Dallas Mavericks.

West group B

Player statistics

Regular season

|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 72 || 72 || 30.9 || .428 || .359 || .844 || 3.4 || 1.7 || .9 || .1 || 12.7|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 44 || 0 || 9.5 || .415 || .403 || 1.000 || 1.7 || .3 || .3 || .1 || 2.2|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 22 || 0 || 21.8 || .466 || .360 || .636 || 7.0 || 1.2 || 1.4 || .9 || 9.8|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 82 || 82 || 31.7 || .423 || .332 || .804 || 5.2 || 3.5 || .8 || .3 || 19.6|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 78 || 6 || 16.8 || .456 || .331 || .819 || 2.3 || .9 || .2 || .4 || 6.5|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 15 || 0 || 5.0 || .423 || .500 || .800 || 1.5 || .7 || .2 || .1 || 2.2|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 78 || 1 || 16.3 || .446 || .387 || .921 || 1.6 || 1.8 || .5 || .1 || 6.6|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 56 || 3 || 13.6 || .515 || .250 || .800 || 3.1 || 1.2 || .4 || .6 || 4.9|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 14 || 0 || 5.1 || .529 || .000 || .643 || 2.3 || .4 || .1 || .1 || 3.2|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 14 || 0 || 4.3 || .643 || .000 || 1.000 || .9 || .2 || .1 || .1 || 1.4|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 63 || 63 || 32.5 || .537 || .297 || .693 || 9.3 || 5.0 || 1.2 || .7 || 21.1|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 76 || 76 || 31.9 || .454 || .363 || .811 || 8.1 || 1.6 || .7 || .8 || 13.7|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 65 || 9 || 15.9 || .472 || .299 || .667 || 3.0 || 1.0 || .6 || .2 || 4.1|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 62 || 23 || 22.4 || .536 || .138 || .684 || 6.6 || 2.6 || 1.3 || .6 || 9.5|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 73 || 73 || 36.8 || .416 || .387 || .860 || 3.8 || 8.1 || 1.4 || .8 || 17.4|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 47 || 2 || 18.7 || .454 || .359 || .679 || 3.8 || .7 || .6 || .4 || 12.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 22 || 0 || 5.9 || .540 || .400 || .538 || 1.0 || .3 || .2 || .0 || 2.9|}

Transactions

See main article: article and List of 2023–24 NBA season transactions.

Trades

Free agency

Additions

Date	Player	Former team	Ref.
July 6	Jock Landale	Phoenix Suns	^[12]
July 7	Fred VanVleet	Toronto Raptors	^[13]
	Jeff Green	Denver Nuggets	^[14]
July 10	Aaron Holiday	Atlanta Hawks	^[15]

Subtractions

Notes and References

1. Web site: Houston Rockets Historical Statistics and All-Time Top Leaders . 2023-05-01 . Basketball-Reference.com.
2. Web site: April 10, 2023 . Rockets decide not to pick up coach Stephen Silas' option . April 10, 2023 . NBA.com.
3. Web site: April 25, 2023 . Rockets Name Ime Udoka Head Coach . April 25, 2023 . NBA.com.
4. Web site: 2023-04-09 . The Rockets are ready to move past their rebuild . 2023-05-01 . ESPN.com.
5. Web site: 2023-04-04 . 2023 NBA mock drafts: Potential Houston Rockets picks after March Madness . 2023-05-01 . Rockets Wire .
6. News: NBA Draft Scouting Report: Villanova's Cam Whitmore . en . NBA Draft Digest - Latest Draft News and Prospect Rankings . 2023-09-22.
7. Web site: 2023-06-01 . NBA mock draft: Wembanyama easy No. 1; AP has Miller second, Henderson third . 2023-09-22 . AP News.
8. Web site: 2023-06-23 . Villanova's Cam Whitmore falls to No. 20 pick in NBA draft after lottery projection . 2023-09-22 . AP News.
9. Web site: Hryn . Derek . 2023-06-22 . 2023 NBA Draft scouting report for Villanova F Cam Whitmore . 2023-09-22 . DraftKings Network.
10. News: NBA officially unveils format, groups for new in-season tournament. ESPN. July 8, 2023. August 4, 2023.
11. Web site: In-Season Tournament 101: Rules, format and how it works . National Basketball Association . 4 August 2023 . 8 July 2023 . en.
12. Web site: Rockets Sign Free Agent Jock Landale. www.nba.com. July 6, 2023. July 17, 2023.
13. Web site: Rockets pry Fred VanVleet away from Raptors. www.nba.com. July 7, 2023. July 17, 2023.
14. Web site: Rockets Sign Free Agent Jeff Green. www.nba.com. July 7, 2023. July 17, 2023.
15. Web site: Rockets Sign Free Agent Aaron Holiday. www.nba.com. July 10, 2023. July 17, 2023.