Only Two Houston Rockets Players Featured in ESPN's 2023 NBArank Top 100
In this year's ESPN NBArank, the Houston Rockets' Jalen Green (No. 80) and Fred VanVleet (No. 56) made their way onto the list, albeit lower than they were last season. VanVleet was previously ranked at No. 38 before the 2022-23 season, and Green was shafted up 18 spots from No. 62 last year.
Among the drops from last year's list is Dillon Brooks. After being ranked at No. 77, Brooks found himself completely off the list after a down season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
A four-point drop in points per game (18.4ppg in 2021-22, 14.3ppg in 2022-23) and a significant drop in shooting percentage (43.2% in 2021-22, 39.6% in 2022-23) seems to be the likely cause for his omission.
Brooks' production on the Rockets could increase with a bigger role in Houston this season.
Another significant no-show for the Rockets was center Alperen Sengun. The Turkish star deemed "Baby Jokic" was the third-highest scorer on the Rockets last season, averaging 14.8 points along with 9.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.
The young big man also shot an efficient 55.3% from the field in 28.9 minutes played for the team per game.
While Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet were welcome additions to the ESPN ranking for Rockets fans, Alperen Sengun, and Dillon Brooks are some notable absences.
Rockets fans have much to be angry about with ESPN's apparent inequity towards the Houston organization. It seems more to outsiders that the website favors players on playoff-contending teams, so for these Rockets players to show up prior to 2024-25, a playoff-contending season may need to be in the cards.
With the additions of VanVleet and Brooks, luckily, that is exactly the goal.
