Bruce Thornton's brilliance is proving he belongs in the Rockets' rotation

Bruce Thornton is off to a tremendous start at the NBA Las Vegas Summer League. Entering summer league, Thornton was expected to be the fulcrum of this team's offense, and he has embraced that role.

Thornton has had an excellent start to summer league

The Houston Rockets' No. 31 overall pick had an absolutely stellar debut. In 35 minutes, Thornton scored 27 points while adding three assists and three steals.

The biggest question entering summer league was whether Thornton would struggle in the role Houston asked him to play. At Ohio State, he often played off the ball. For him to make an impact with the Rockets, however, he needs to be comfortable as a lead guard.

His 27 points to only three assists may suggest he was primarily looking for his own shot, but that does not tell the full story. Thornton consistently initiated the offense, made the right pass, and created quality looks for his teammates. His teammates simply did not convert enough of his passes for him to accumulate a high assist total.

His second summer league game was much of the same, except this time his playmaking translated to higher assist numbers. Thornton finished with 17 points and six assists. He also knocked down three three-pointers in each of his first two games.

Bruce Thornton has proven he belongs in the Rockets' rotation

Overall, Thornton has done everything the Rockets could have reasonably asked of him. He has efficiently run the offense, knocked down open shots, scored from all three levels, and displayed feisty defensive instincts.

Thornton will not have the same offensive freedom during the regular season, but his summer league performance has shown he can fill a valuable role for Houston immediately.

The Rockets do not need him to average 20 points and five assists per game. If he can come off the bench as the third guard in the rotation, knock down open shots, and efficiently organize the offense for 10 to 15 minutes each night, he could provide a significant boost.

Summer league performances should always be viewed with some caution because the competition is not NBA-caliber. However, nothing Thornton has done appears unsustainable. He was an excellent shooter throughout his college career and flashed the ability to run an offense. That is why Houston traded up to draft Thornton, and he is already showing he can fill a valuable role this season.

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