Former Indiana Pacers and Fort Wayne Mad Ants forward Jermaine Samuels signs with Houston Rockets

Samuels spent the past season in the Pacers organization

The Houston Rockets announced on Wednesday that they have signed forward Jermaine Samuels to a two-way contract. Samuels played for the Rockets during Las Vegas Summer League.

Samuels spent time in the Pacers organization last year, which was his rookie season. The 24-year old forward signed with Indiana during training camp in 2022, but he was waived the next day. Prior to that, he averaged 4.7 points and 2.3 rebounds per game during 2022 Summer League for the blue and gold.

The training camp deal that Samuels signed contained an Exhibit 10 clause, so he received a bonus for reporting to the Pacers G League affiliate team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, last year. And he shined in that setting.

With Fort Wayne, Samuels played in 50 games. He averaged 15.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game while being an active defender. He toggled between the forward and center positions for the Mad Ants and did well in both. His efficiency was excellent, too, as he had a ridiculous 73.8% true shooting percentage, per RealGM.

He attributed his strong play to his teammates in a one-on-one interview with AllPacers during the season, stating that he just wants to win. Samuels believes most players in the NBA who came from Villanova University are wired to put winning above all else.

"We have a lot of guys in the league right now. I'm trying to be one of them," he said of the Wildcats program. "But I'm just going to keep working and hope for the best."

He kept playing hard down the stretch of the season, but the Pacers gave their only call-up of the year to guard Gabe York. Samuels didn't play in a game for the blue and gold. 

This summer, he switched organizations and joined the Houston Rockets for Summer League play. He averaged 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game for the Rockets in Las Vegas.

Now, he's on the team on a two-way contract. If he hits the court for NBA minutes this season, he will have accomplished a goal he's had for a while.

"It's my dream. I hope to get a call-up or an opportunity," Samuels said during the 2022-23 season. He is now one step closer to that goal.

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