To say the Houston Rockets are a surprise team this 2024–25 NBA season might be selling them short a little. That’s because this team had been on the rise since late last season, and their early success so far is looking more like an extension of that strong second half. What we’re trying to say is that nobody should be shocked that the team from H-Town is playing this well, especially since they have plenty of talent up and down the roster—with a good mix of emerging stars and young veterans.
We break down the Rockets next.
(For our previous NBA Roster Insider Drafts, just click here: Atlanta Hawks | Boston Celtics | Brooklyn Nets | Charlotte Hornets | Chicago Bulls | Cleveland Cavaliers | Dallas Mavericks | Denver Nuggets | Golden State Warriors)
Your Main Man: Alperen Sengun
This choice boiled down to two emerging young stars: Sengun and the high-flying Jalen Green.
Green makes a great case for his scoring, but we just think Sengun’s across-the-board production makes more sense from a fantasy standpoint. Sengun so far this season has been putting up 18.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks. The points, rebounds, and assists alone make for a good fantasy box score. The 2.3 stocks (steals + blocks) seal the deal.
Don’t think, too, that these stats are an aberration. This is Sengun’s deal: a do-it-all big man figuring things out at an accelerated pace. This means these numbers will likely hold steady—or even go up as the season progresses.
Surefire Studs: Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson
VanVleet was once upon a time just a reliable role player but has emerged as a nice secondary or tertiary star through sheer hard work and high basketball IQ. That’s exactly his role in Houston as the veteran to young stars like Green and Sengun. Fantasy-wise, it’s translating nicely as well, as VanVleet has been averaging a solid 16.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.5 steals.
Thompson, on the other hand, is the type of young, emerging star benefitting from the veteran leadership of guys like VanVleet, Steven Adams, and Dillon Brooks (more on him later). And this season, Thompson’s vastly improving game has been a boon for the Rockets as they have found a gem who’s averaging 11.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks and playing fantastic defense.
Low Cost, High-Value Picks: Dillon Brooks, Tari Eason
Brooks is another veteran like VanVleet, and he has been a rock for the Rockets, providing the toughness and grit any young team needs. The 12.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.6 steals he puts up aren’t too shabby either, both in real games and in fantasy leagues.
Eason, meanwhile, is no veteran but is playing like one—particularly on defense, where he and Thompson have been a wrecking ball. The 2.1 steals and 1.0 block Eason averages area testament to his defensive acumen and are huge when it comes to fantasy. He also contributes 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds—not bad for a role player you’ll probably get at low cost.
