Josh Okogie has emerged as a real option to start for the Rockets in the playoffs, giving coach Ime Udoka another piece to weigh as Houston settles on its best lineup for the stretch that matters most. The fifth starter spot has been unsettled all season, but Okogie’s case has grown louder as the postseason approaches.
Udoka made clear Wednesday that the team is narrowing its choices. “As we go, I think we’re kind of zeroing in on what we like matchup-wise,” he said, adding, “I pretty much know what I’m going to do.”
The Rockets’ ideal playoff group includes Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr., leaving one spot open for a decision that has been debated for months. Since Fred VanVleet’s injury, Udoka and his staff have tailored the starting lineup to matchups, which has kept the role in flux even as different looks have shown promise.
Okogie has made a strong statistical case. He started 32 games for Houston this season, and in 351 minutes alongside the four regular starters he owns the best net rating of any player in that mix. When Tari Eason shares the floor with the four solidified starters, the Rockets are plus-9.5 in 298 minutes. When Okogie plays with that same group, Houston has posted a plus-11.1 net rating.
He has also provided enough offense to keep defenses honest. Okogie is shooting 38.5% from deep on two attempts per game this season. As a starter, he averaged 6.6 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 43.9% from three on 2.6 attempts per game. The Rockets are 22-10 when he starts, a record that gives his supporters a clean argument for why he belongs in the playoff rotation.
That is the tension for Houston now: Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason remain logical names to consider, but the numbers have pushed Okogie into the middle of the conversation. Udoka says he knows what he will do. The question is whether the choice he has settled on will be the one that best survives the playoffs.
