The Houston Rockets have been active in reshaping their roster during the recent offseason, making significant moves to strengthen their title chances. Their most notable acquisition came with the trade for future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant, who joined the team in exchange for Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green. The Rockets aimed to add a reliable scorer to boost their playoff success, hoping Durant would fulfill that role.
In addition to Durant, the Rockets signed Dorian Finney-Smith shortly after free agency began, filling the spot left by Brooks. Veteran depth at center was bolstered by bringing back Clint Capela as the third center option, often covering for Steven Adams. The team clearly prioritized adding experienced players and depth across key positions to prepare their push for a championship.
To address wing depth, Houston also signed veteran swingman Josh Okogie to a one-year veteran minimum contract late in free agency. Entering his eighth NBA season, Okogie, who had played with three previous teams, was known primarily for his defensive skills. Initially expected to serve as a role player near the eighth or ninth spot off the bench, Okogie’s status changed before training camp.
Okogie’s Unexpected Opportunity Amid Early Setbacks
Fred VanVleet, the Rockets’ on- and off-court leader, suffered a possible season-ending injury just before training camp, forcing the team to rethink their starting lineup. With Brooks, Green, and now VanVleet unavailable, Houston had to revise their rotation significantly. Kevin Durant naturally remained a starter, and Jabari Smith, who returned from injury last January and was on the bench last season, was moved back into the starting lineup. This left one starting spot open.
Many expected Dorian Finney-Smith to fill that final spot, but he was still recovering from offseason ankle surgery and not ready for game action. Others speculated the team might turn to second-year guard Reed Sheppard, but instead, Rockets chose Okogie at the shooting guard position. Despite concerns about his lack of three-point shooting, Okogie immediately demonstrated he could contribute more than just defense.
Strong Start and Subsequent Reduction in Playing Time
Okogie began the season hot, shooting the best three-point percentage of his career over the first two months. Even though his accuracy slightly declined afterward, he maintained a solid shooting percentage near 39% for the season’s first half. However, with Finney-Smith’s season debut in December, Okogie’s minutes began to shrink.
The Rockets aimed to gradually reintegrate Finney-Smith into their system and help him regain game fitness. Meanwhile, Sheppard’s emergence as a guard rotation piece further limited Okogie’s opportunities. As a result, Okogie went from starting nearly 30 games this season to occasionally being held out of the lineup. Recent performances, however, suggest this may not be the optimal approach for the Rockets as they seek to finish strong.
Current Playing Time Decline and Comparisons to Finney-Smith
Heading into February, Okogie averaged just over 20 minutes per game, but as Finney-Smith’s minutes increased, Okogie’s playing time dropped to 16 minutes per contest. He did not play in three games during this stretch and logged less than 13 minutes in eight others. Finney-Smith has struggled since returning on Christmas Day, shooting a career-low 25% from three-point range and failing to make a substantial positive impact despite increased minutes.
On the other hand, Okogie has continued to bring valuable shooting and strong defensive effort whenever given chances, particularly during recent wins. For the first time since last month, he played 20-plus minutes in back-to-back games, and his combined plus-minus rating in those contests was +45.
Why Keeping Okogie in the Rotation Is Critical
Even when Okogie’s shot isn’t falling, his influence extends beyond scoring through his defensive contributions and overall impact on the floor. Throughout the season, he has proven himself a better performer than Finney-Smith, making a compelling argument for a larger role moving forward.
The Rockets must consider prioritizing Okogie in their rotation if they hope to meaningfully compete in the playoffs. His ability to provide timely shooting and stout defense adds significant value that the team needs down the stretch. As Houston continues to adjust its lineup amid injuries and varying player performances, Okogie’s consistent contributions make him an indispensable piece of their present and future success.
