Even though the NBA Summer League doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things, the Houston Rockets certainly wouldn't mind a win before July is over. Monday's 111-108 loss to the Atlanta Hawks saw the Rockets fall to 0-3 on the summertime slate, leaving fans to wonder if they can avoid a fourth consecutive loss when they face the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.
Although the last few weeks haven't given Houston fans a ton to cheer about, this year's Summer League hasn't been completely disappointing. In fact, one of the newest Rockets hasn't wasted any time impressing the franchise's supporters and coaching staff alike.
Rockets Wing Adonis Arms is Exceeding Expectations in Summer League
Adonis Arm was one of the last-minute names the Rockets added before the Summer League kicked off. After going undrafted in 2022, the former Texas Tech product spent time with the NBA G League's Grand Rapids Gold and Memphis Hustle, joining the Chinese Basketball Association's Guangdong Southern Tigers for the 2024 season.
It turns out his latest performance was what Arms needed to get back on NBA teams' radars, specifically the Rockets. Although his 32.6% field-goal and 26.9% three-point rates left much to be desired, his averaging 10.2 points, 1.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks were enough for Houston to offer him this summer opportunity, and so far he's capitalized on it.
Through his first two outings with the Rockets, Arms is averaging 18.0 PPG with a 47.8 FG% and 18.2 3P%. His long-distance shooting has left much to be desired; however, his solid two-way play across the floor (4.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 1.0 blocks) has certainly made up for it. That's without mentioning how he led his teammates in points (24) and free throws made (8) during Monday's defeat. A
According to Spotrac, the Rockets have two remaining roster spots, meaning there's still room for Arms to crack head coach Ime Udoka's bench. Adding an athletic wing who isn't afraid to shoot the ball or get his hands dirty on defense could be a solid choice for the 14th or 15th roster spot.
Hopefully, Arms can extend his momentum throughout the rest of the Summer League, giving him a real shot at playing a meaningful role with the Rockets in 2025-26.