Boban Marjanović - What Does The Big Man Bring To Houston?

The Houston Rockets signed center Boban Marjanovic to a one-year deal ahead of the season.

The Houston Rockets signed veteran big man Boban Marjanović to an NBA contract ahead of the 2023-24 season.

The 34-year-old center signed a one-year deal with the Rockets for $2.89 million after spending the end of last season with the team. He was traded to Houston from the Dallas Mavericks along with Sterling Brown, Trey Burke, Marquese Chriss and Wendell Moore Jr. in exchange for Christian Wood.

Marjanović played in 31 games for the Rockets last season, averaging 5.5 minutes per game, 3.3 points per game and 1.9 rebounds per game. His impact on the court is minimal as he doesn't play much and isn't a contributing player.

So why did Houston decide to bring the 7-foot 3-inch center back on an NBA contract for one more year?

The veteran center had been in the NBA for eight years and has played for six different teams. With a young and promising roster, veteran presence is valuable to the Rockets. 

Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, Alperen Şengün, and Cam Whitmore currently make up Houston’s young core, and the team will be very careful to make sure that the environment around them is perfect. 

That’s where the experience of Marjanović can be helpful. The team culture can only improve with his presence on the roster.

Marjanović and the Rockets will be in action when the NBA pre-season begins, starting with a matchup at home against the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.