After winning 41 games last season and giving Houston Rockets fans reason for hope, the next steps are critical for the organization.
For all the doom and gloom the fan base was subjected to following the James Harden trade — the early stages of a rebuild and the dread that accompanied it — the 2023-24 season was a good foot forward. But what does the future hold?
Early returns from hiring head coach Ime Udoka have been positive, having instilled a level of professionalism that was nonexistent over the last few years. Couple that with veteran additions in NBA champion Fred VanVleet and battle-tested Dillon Brooks and it’s easy to see why young players like Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. took steps in their development last season.
But what was seen nightly, as bright as some of the highs were, is far from the finished product. There’s another level this team desires to reach on both sides of the ball, and that starts with Udoka and his assistants tweaking tactics and adjusting. Şengün and Green are regarded as the pillars of Houston’s process, but both are still growing. Role players like Smith, Tari Eason, Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore have areas for improvement. And then there’s the question of recent No. 3 pick Reed Sheppard and what he brings to the table.
The Rockets opted against an aggressive offseason, putting more stock in what they have grown and taking the organic, patient approach. Will it pay off?
What do you, the fans, think of everything? It’s time to find out.
Summer is over, basketball is slowly picking back up, and Rockets training camp is roughly a month away. To get us prepared, I’ve prepared 13 fan survey questions for you all to answer, covering several topics related to the franchise and how you feel about them.
How do you feel about the team’s outlook? What are you expecting for the upcoming season? This is your moment to shine. We want to know exactly what you’re thinking about your beloved team. The survey’s results will be posted early next week.
You can find the survey below.
(Reminder: Readers using an Android device to access the fan survey may need to use two fingers to scroll through the document. If you encounter any issues, simply use this link to participate in the survey.)
(Photo of Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green: Chris Coduto / Getty Images)
