Houston Rockets: Can Danuel House Jr. emerge as the starting small forward?

Danuel House Jr. has managed to find an ideal landing spot with the Houston Rockets. Can the hometown hero emerge as the starting small forward this season?

Not too long ago, Houston Rockets forward Danuel House Jr. found himself wandering down a series of crossroads — and oscillating basketball pilgrimages in his career — that led him to question how he might be able to provide for his family through the game he loved.

The 26-year-old — who failed to garner a single call on Draft Night 2016 — was cut by the Golden State Warriors near the conclusion of last year’s training camp.

This came despite putting together a strong showing for the Rockets at the 2018 NBA Summer League, as the former All-American honorable mention had failed to depart from the preseason without a team to call his own for the third straight year.

"“This has been a journey for me,” House said per Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston when asked about his experiences in the league several months ago."

Now, House’s long winding expedition and path towards The Association has truly paid off, as the player who once wondered if he might ever find the light of day in the league has come across an ideal landing spot in his backyard.

House — who opened up last season as a member of the Rockets’ G League affiliate — managed to successfully play his way out of a two-way deal into a full-time contract with Houston midway through the 2018-19 regular season after rising up to average 13.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per 36 minutes for the Rockets in 39 outings.

On the way to garnering a brand new pact following his most recent individual campaign, as House would agree to re-sign with the Rockets on a 3-year, $11.1 million deal to kick off free agency on June 30.

"“All I can do is smile now,” House told reporters last season when taking some time to reflect on his journey from the G League to the NBA. “There were dark days and cloudy nights…now I can smile about it and just continue to work hard.“I keep that in the back of my mind every time I’m playing. Where I started from and where I’m at now…I just don’t want to let up off the gas.”"

Although it remains to be seen how House will fare throughout an 82-game slate, no one in Clutch City can deny that the ex-Texas A&M standout has found a way to establish himself as a quintessential piece since bursting on the scene within Mike D’Antoni’s system.

In spite of generating several lackluster performances during Houston’s most recent playoff run,  the 6’7″ 220-pound product provided Houston with valuable shooting on the wing following the sudden ousting of Carmelo Anthony.

Including significant help at the other end of the court, House’s acumen of the Rockets switch-heavy defensive scheme — combined with his ability to guard multiple positions — would play an instrumental role in why the Houston native was able to overtake forward Gary Clark on the official depth chart.

He also garnered extended minutes in the wake of several injuries, as the man who answered the G League call proved to be a more potent threat when inserted into the Rockets’ starting lineup.

House — who averaged 8.5 points on 45.2 percent shooting from the field in 26 games off the bench — posted 11.2 points per game on a red-hot 49.5 percent shooting clip from the field in his 13 appearances as a starter.

His increased production also came in addition to converting a whopping 48.3 percent of his looks from beyond the arc, as House averaged more rebounds, assists and blocks per game in starts than during his minutes as a reserve in his inaugural season with Houston.

"“He’s not scared” Rockets guard James Harden said about House to the press following a team shootaround last year prior to Christmas. “He gets after it on both ends of the floor. He makes big shots.“Something you guys don’t probably see is that he puts the work in. He’s here with me [in practice], he’s one of the last ones to leave. Playing one-on-one, putting his shots up, and making sure that confidence level doesn’t go away.”"

Should these trends carry over to training camp, then there is a strong shot that House could pencil himself in as the Rockets starting small forward come Opening Night, as the guy who once starred in charity hoop games alongside The Beard may be joining the esteemed graces of Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon and Clint Capela sooner than expected.