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Houston Rockets: 2019-2020 season player grades

By James Mueller

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 10: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets reacts during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 10, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 10: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets reacts during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 10, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Houston Rockets Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Houston Rockets Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images /

Houston Rockets grade: Ben McLemore

Coming into the season, most people were questioning whether Ben McLemore deserved an NBA roster spot after his once-promising career had seemed to be derailed. But McLemore proved his doubters wrong, making himself a valuable contributor for the Rockets.

The 27-year-old sharpshooter led the Rockets in shooting from behind the arc, shooting 40 percent from 3-point range on the season. As a result of his hot hand, McLemore raised his average from 3.9 points per game in 2018-19 with Sacramento to 10.9 points per game with Houston.

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The former first-round draft pick out of Kansas also saw a dramatic increase in minutes this season, playing 22.8 minutes per game in the regular season after only playing 8.3 minutes per game last season.

While McLemore produced offensively, he proved to be a liability on the defensive end, posting a 109.2 defensive rating on the season. This resulted in him not playing very much in the playoffs since the Rockets relied on a full team effort defensively to make up for their lack of size.

McLemore should be a valuable part of the Rockets organization in 2021 and could even see an increased role if he is able to improve defensively over the offseason.

Season Grade: B

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