Josh Okogie’s 2025-26 season was like cowbell:
We wanted more.
Seriously. What happened here? Okogie was in the midst of the best season of his career. Sure, he shot an unsustainable 95.0% from deep over the first month of the season (note: statistic exaggerated for comedic effect). Yes, he was inevitably going to cool off, and he did:
But even after cooling off, Okogie was still pretty warm.
On the whole, Okogie hit 38.5% of his threes in 2025-26. That alone should have warranted more than 17.4 minutes
per game. A Rockets team that was starving for three-point shooting inexplicably thumbed their noses at nourishment.
Perhaps it was a matter of what Okogie isn’t. The team needed more ball-handling, and he provides little.
That might make sense in any other context. When you’re losing minutes to Jae’Sean Tate, it boggles the mind. That’s not to be insulting. I hope Tate plays his entire career in Houston, but as less of a rotation guy and more of a “make you work hard in practice” locker-room leader. Okogie is infinitely more rotation-worthy.
The Rockets just had too many three-and-D wings. Only: Did they, though? Tari Eason. That’s one. Jabari Smith Jr. qualifies, but he’s an entirely different player as a four/five to Okogie’s three/two. Dorian Finney-Smith was closer to an awful-and-brutal. If there was a reason to slash Okogie’s minutes, it’s entirely lost on this author.
For whatever reason, Ime Udoka saw it differently. Okogie averaged 19.6 minutes per game before the All-Star break, and 12.8 per game after.
Confusing. Aggravating. Okogie had a strong season, and he was not rewarded.
Will we ever see him again?
Rockets should consider retaining Okogie
It feels unlikely.
Okogie hits unrestricted free agency this year. Someone may offer him more than the veteran’s minimum he signed to play with the Rockets this year. Even if nobody does, the Rockets will need to keep a roster spot for someone who can both shoot and make a play with the ball.
Frankly, Okogie is your classic roster churn guy. You don’t necessarily expect to keep every guy who plays reasonably well for years on end. Most teams are going to rotate through ninth and tenth men on an annual basis.
That said, it would be great to bring him back on the same deal. Okogie has always been a reliable defender, and 2025-26 was no exception. If he’s hitting threes, he’s a nice addition to any rotation:
No matter what Ime Udoka seems to think.
