The biggest dark horse in training camp! The Rockets created a VanVleet substitute out of thin air?

After a day of rest, the Rockets re-started training mode on the weekend. Before training camp on the last day of the preseason, a name that was unlikely to be noticed appeared in Uduka's mouth.

He is a two-way contract player, former Celtic defender JD Davidson.

JD-Davidson He was once a recognized five-star rookie and one of the best point guards in the 2021 class. The fourth-year guard from the University of Alabama, but he had to fight for every second he stayed on the NBA field because he wasn't talented enough. Davidson was selected in the second round by the Boston Celtics in the 2022 draft. Joining a team like the Celtics that have just reached the NBA Finals is an excellent starting point for starting a career. However, as a second round pick, this also presents challenges.

Davidson found it difficult to enter the rotation lineup because there were already mature point guards such as Derek White and Payton Pritchard on the team. In his rookie season, he played only 12 games and averaged less than 2 points per game. In fact, Davidson played only 36 games in total in his three seasons for the Celtics.

Although Davidson struggled to get playing time with the Celtics, he still impressed his teammates like Derek White.

Previously, Xiaobai said in an interview, "I often face him in training camp and often get defeated. To be honest, I personally think he is the best off-point point guard in our team."

This is highly commendable considering that White is one of the best defensive guards in the NBA. Davidson brings this hard-working attitude to his G League game. Davidson spent most of last season playing for the Maine Celtics and making the most of his chances. Davidson played 30 games for Maine, averaging 25.1 points per game (48.3% shooting percentage and 33.6% from three points), 7.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals. He was subsequently named the G League MVP for the 2023-24 season.

Despite his success in the G League, the Celtics decided to sack Davidson on July 24 (more because of tax cuts), which allowed him to sign a two-way contract with the Rockets. Now, with Fred VanVleet's injury, the Rockets are short of staff in the backcourt, with only Amen Thompson, Reed Shepard and Aaron Holiday as rotational guards.

Davidson has shown his ability to score at times. Although he hasn't had a chance to prove this continuously in the NBA, that doesn't mean he can't do it. Now, with the Rockets needing someone to step up at the point guard position, Davidson may finally get a chance to show that he can succeed in the NBA.

When asked about Davidson's performance during Saturday's training camp practice, Uduka told Ben of Rockets Wire DuBose: "He performed very well. He is very aggressive, possesses the ball well, and makes good decisions in pick-and-roll. He has a good figure and can lead the defense all over the game, so he has brought aggressiveness on both ends of the offense and defense. "

"You can see his past achievements. I coached him briefly in Boston (as the head coach of the Celtics in the 2021-22 season), so I know him. He makes the most of the opportunity and the extra training rounds here. "

"He can make the right decisions, whether it's scored by himself or made the right reading. As I said, he is tall and able to hit the inside. He has excellent athleticism. He has a great free cut. "

Currently on the Rockets' point guard, in addition to rookie Reed Shepard causing heated discussions, Amen Thompson and Aaron Holiday will also share the pressure. But JD-Davidson is undoubtedly a dark horse candidate worth paying attention to. The 23-year-old young defender is finally in Houston, and he has the best chance to prove whether he can fulfill his G League dominance to the NBA.

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