When we last saw the Houston Rockets play a regular-season game in April, they were one of the NBA’s youngest teams and directed by a relatively unproven head coach in Stephen Silas.
To say the least, things have changed significantly in the months since. Ime Udoka replaced Silas as head coach and brought in his own staff of assistants, while general manager Rafael Stone spent more than $60 million in free agency to sign veteran players such as Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jeff Green, and Jock Landale.
Those veterans will surround Houston’s young core of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Kevin Porter Jr., Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and newly drafted 2023 rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore.
With that in mind, as of late July, here’s an updated look at where things stand with the Rockets’ coaching staff and roster of players entering the 2023-24 season. Many of the newcomers will not have their jersey numbers revealed until closer to training camp, which is scheduled to start in early October.
Height and weight information is from NBA.com, while salary details are from HoopsHype figures. Ages are as of August 1, 2023.
Coaching staff
Head coach: Ime Udoka
Assistant coaches: Ben Sullivan, Royal Ivey, Garrett Jackson, Tiago Splitter, Cam Hodges, and Mike Moser
Amen Thompson
Jersey Number: 1
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Overtime Elite/USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Rookie
Age: 20 years old
Size: 6-foot-7, 215 pounds
2023-24 salary: $8.8 million (click here for future seasons)
Kevin Porter Jr.
Jersey Number: 3
Prior to NBA/Home Country: USC, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Fifth season
Age: 23
Size: 6-foot-6, 201 pounds
2023-24 salary: $15.9 million (click here for future seasons)
Jalen Green
Jersey Number: 4
Prior to NBA/Home Country: G League Ignite, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Third season
Age: 21
Size: 6-foot-6, 183 pounds
2023-24 salary: $9.9 million (click here for future seasons)
Jersey Number: 5
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Louisiana State, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Second season
Age: 23
Size: 6-foot-7, 245 pounds
2023-24 salary: $0.6 million (two-way contract)
Cam Whitmore
Jersey Number: 7
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Villanova, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Rookie
Age: 19 years old
Size: 6-foot-7, 235 pounds
2023-24 salary: $3.2 million (click here for future seasons)
Jae’Sean Tate
Jersey Number: 8
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Sydney Kings (Australia); Ohio State, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Fourth season
Age: 27
Size: 6-foot-5, 226 pounds
2023-24 salary: $6.5 million (click here for future seasons)
Jabari Smith Jr.
Jersey Number: 10
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Auburn, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Second season
Age: 20
Size: 6-foot-11, 213 pounds
2023-24 salary: $9.3 million (click here for future seasons)
Jersey Number: 12
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Northwest Missouri State, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Second season
Age: 24
Size: 6-foot-0, 198 pounds
2023-24 salary: $0.6 million (two-way contract)
Tari Eason
Jersey Number: 17
Prior to NBA/Home Country: LSU, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Second season
Age: 22
Size: 6-foot-8, 217 pounds
2023-24 salary: $3.5 million (click here for future seasons)
Alperen Sengun
Jersey Number: 28
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Besiktas, Turkey
Position: Center
NBA Experience: Third season
Age: 21
Size: 6-foot-11, 255 pounds
2023-24 salary: $3.5 million (click here for future seasons)
Fred VanVleet
Jersey Number: TBD
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Wichita State, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Eighth season
Age: 29
Size: 6-foot-0, 197 pounds
2023-24 salary: $40.8 million (click here for future seasons)
Dillon Brooks
Jersey Number: TBD
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Oregon, Canada
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: Seventh season
Age: 27
Size: 6-foot-6, 225 pounds
2023-24 salary: $22.6 million (click here for future seasons)
Jeff Green
Jersey Number: TBD
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Georgetown, USA
Position: Forward
NBA Experience: 16th season
Age: 36
Size: 6-foot-8, 235 pounds
2023-24 salary: $9.6 million (click here for future seasons)
Jock Landale
Jersey Number: TBD
Prior to NBA/Home Country: Saint Mary’s, Australia
Position: Center
NBA Experience: Third season
Age: 27
Size: 6-foot-11, 255 pounds
2023-24 salary: $8.0 million (click here for future seasons)
Jersey Number: TBD
Prior to NBA/Home Country: UCLA, USA
Position: Guard
NBA Experience: Sixth season
Age: 26
Size: 6-foot-0, 185 pounds
2023-24 salary: $2.3 million
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Story originally appeared on Rockets Wire
