Houston Rockets: 3 takeaways from 2018-19 Media Day

2. Clint Capela aspires to be great

In a season where the Houston Rockets came into the year with high expectations, Clint Capela managed to put together a campaign that nearly helped him capture the NBA’s Most Improved Player award.

The 24-year-old  — who was selected with the 25th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft — posted a career-high 13.9 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in his second full season as a starter, finishing among the top 10 or better in field goal percentage, rebounds and blocks a year ago.

Now, the fourth-year center from Switzerland is working to take his game to the next level, as the player who was once sent down for multiple assignments in the G League is striving to become one of the best centers in the game.

"“[I want to] be an All-Star,” Capela said during his time with the media. “I want to also be a Defensive Player of the Year.” “I know the quality that I have on defense, and what I’ve shown…I’m really confident that I will get there.”"

Although one could have easily sought to make a case for Capela receiving an official nod to play in the league’s premier exhibition gala last year, garnering both honors would place him in exclusive company, as the Swiss Roll would join Hakeem Olajuwon as the only big man in Rockets history to ever earn an All-Star appearance and Defensive Player of the Year award in the same season.

Should the rim-running threat play 30 minutes per game and dominate like this on a nightly basis, then there is a strong possibility the $90 million man could accomplish his series of goals sooner rather than later.