The Phoenix Suns have quickly put together a roster that The Valley has fallen in love with after the disaster that was the Kevin Durant era, but that doesn't mean they don't have soft spots for some former players. Josh Okogie a name that fans react well to, because of how hard he played.
Okogie now critical piece for Houston Rockets.
So it should come as no surprise that the 27-year-old, who played over two seasons with Phoenix at a time when expectations were high, has found a home with the Houston Rockets. It is also ironic that in following Durant there from the Charlotte Hornets, he has reunited with the player he was supposed to win big with in Phoenix.
Okogie has started 12 of the 16 games he's played for that franchise so far this year, at a time when their starting five is as fearsome as any in the league. There can be no greater indication of the importance of Okogie to Houston, than the fact he's playing 21.5 minutes per night.
Don’t be too hard on Josh Okogie for an occasional bad offensive play.
— . (@sengunamatata) November 27, 2025
His defense on other teams best players has been huge and a major part of their success.
Way up on the 16.9 he managed throughout his time with the Suns, and it trails only his first two years in the league. Back then he was on a Minnesota Timberwolves roster going nowhere, and they were more than happy to give him playing time to see if he could develop into a two-way player.
He has reached that point now, and the Rockets are benefitting massively. They have the second best offense (122.0) and sixth best defense (111.1) right now, yet when Okogie is out there the team is somehow even better (110.4) and not giving up baskets.
Okogie's net rating on the season of plus 15.7 is obviously a career high, and while you can make the case he's playing with the best group of his career and is benefitting from this, it is not like he isn't playing his part here. He knows he will rarely be featured offensively, yet doesn't care.
Despite this the 7.1 points he is averaging is actually up on his career average of 6.4, while the 40.4 percent he is putting up from deep is again another number we have never seen from him before. Yes he is making the most of the space he is being given because of who he is playing with, but plenty of other players have failed in this spot. Just ask Yuta Watanabe.
The Suns don't miss Okogie, they have enough reasons to be positive about the direction their own team is headed this season. But head coach Jordan Ott would have had a field day using him in lineups on both ends of the court. Instead he's helping a contender, and he is thriving.