Did the Rockets successfully pick up the slack? Uduka summarized the 6 major advantages of basic-salary guards! The starting position is temporarily stable

The Rockets’ biggest signing this season is naturally Kevin Durant. In order to acquire the 37-year-old top star, the Rockets sent last season's two absolute starters Dillon Brooks and Jaylen Green, as well as a first-round pick and four second-round picks. It took these chips to get Durant, but overall, the Rockets' deal was worth it. After all, Jaylen Green's ceiling is limited. Although 3D wings like Dillon Brooks are excellent, the Rockets also have players who can replace him. Okogie may be the guy the Rockets signed to replace Dillon Brooks.

The Rockets gave Okogie a veteran's minimum salary of more than 3 million in the offseason. The swingman, who played for both the Suns and Hornets last season, finally chose to join the Rockets and reunite with Durant. But looking at it now, Okogie is obviously the Rockets' most successful pick. Finney Smith and Capela both got the contracts they deserved, and Okogie was clearly undervalued for a minimum salary. Okogie is averaging nearly 9 points per game this season, and his three-point shooting percentage is as high as 50%. On the defensive end, his performance cannot be reflected in the data: he can shoot in open shots, and can also help Amen Thompson share the pressure of holding the ball. He can also help defend and supplement defense next to Durant.

For the Rockets, Okogie is a versatile player. Even Rockets head coach Uduka admitted this. In an interview, Uduka talked about Okogie and summarized the six major advantages of this minimum salary guard. In the view of coach Uduka, Okogie was capable of doing the jobs that Dillon Brooks, Finney Smith and Tate were good at when he was introduced. In other words, he was introduced as a substitute for these players, but now his performance is not inferior to these players.

In other words, Okogie is the Rockets' most cost-effective 3D wing. This is the first advantage. In addition, Uduka believes that Okogie's defense is versatile, he also has strong offensive rebounding ability and stable shooting performance. These three major advantages have been reflected in the recent regular season. Moreover, Amen Thompson is under a lot of pressure, and Okogie can share a lot of pressure by starting with him.

The last advantage is that Okogie can be matched with various lineups, either with a big lineup or a traditional lineup, and can even serve as a power forward in a small lineup, as he did in the last game of the preseason. To sum up, these six major advantages are the foundation for Okogie to establish himself in the Rockets. Now that he occupies the starting shooting guard position of the Rockets, even if Finney Smith comes back, it is estimated that it will be difficult to take away the starting position from him.

Being able to get great recognition from coach Uduka shows that Okogie's starting position is stable for the time being, but he should play a more stable performance and not have a good game or a bad game. Otherwise, his starting position may be taken away by Eason, Sheppard or even Finney Smith after his return. But for now, the Rockets have a very high winning rate when Okogie starts, and Uduka will not take the initiative to change formations for the time being.