Teams around the NBA have built their rosters for next season, and except for a few remaining restricted free agents, there aren't too many moves left to be made before the Oct. 21 regular-season opener. This means that the players who are left without a team at this point in the offseason will likely sign non-NBA deals, either with the G League or overseas teams, which includes some former members of recent Houston Rockets teams.
One of those players is Josh Christopher. The former 24th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, Christopher was among a few misses of the Rockets' front office in recent years. After a few months of NBA free agency, the 23-year-old guard is still unemployed and likely has to take an overseas deal before trying his luck in the league.
Former Rocket Josh Christopher Has to Head Overseas After Failing in the NBA
Christopher was one of four first-round selections for the Rockets in the 2021 Draft. That draft class gave Houston Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Usman Garuba. Green didn't live up to the hype as the second-overall pick, but was still a big factor in how the Rockets were able to land Kevin Durant via trade this summer. Sengun is obviously a home run pick, making Houston's draft a massive success on his own. Garuba and Christopher, however, have not been able to make an impact with the Rockets or anywhere else in the league.
This is certainly a disappointing outcome for Christopher, who was one of the best players in the country as a prospect. A consensus five-star recruit, he was ranked as the 11th-best player in the nation by ESPN before committing to Arizona State. A dynamic scorer with solid athleticism at 6'4", Christopher was projected to be an offensive difference-maker for the Rockets, but things didn't work out for him, leading to him bouncing around the G League for a few years before landing with the Miami Heat for the 2024-25 season.
His stint in Miami only lasted 14 regular-season games, where he was almost exclusively used as a garbage-time option, playing a total of 69 minutes.
Christopher's inability to be a threat from downtown makes him difficult to play off the ball and fit around other players. His career 27.3% shooting from the three-point range was likely the main reason for him not landing an NBA deal. Perhaps an overseas adventure where he gets his confidence back and improves his shooting touch is what the former Rocket needs to re-establish his career.