Rockets just quietly parted ways with another multi-year player

Jermaine Samuels, who has spent the last two seasons as a part of the Houston Rockets’ organization, has signed a deal to join Spanish club San Pablo Burgos, according to Alberto De Roa’s transaction log on HoopsHype. Samuels began on a two-way contract with the Rockets in 2023-24, but last year, he was only with their G League team, the Rio Grande Vipers.

Now, Samuels, who is 26 years old, will begin a new chapter of his basketball journey just as the Rockets are about to start a new chapter of theirs. The difference? Samuels will be gunning for Spanish league glory, while the Kevin Durant-led Rockets will be working toward an NBA Championship.

But perhaps Samuels will make it back to the league one day.

Why did Jermaine Samuels leave the Rockets?

When he was on a two-way contract with the Rockets during the 2023-24 season, Samuels only appeared in 14 NBA games, playing 4.3 minutes per contest. He wasn’t a real part of their rotation.

That said, he did spend time with the Vipers during that same campaign, which was his second year in the NBA ecosystem. He first spent a year in the G League with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

In his two-way season with the Rockets, Samuels appeared in 38 games with the Vipers, playing 34.5 minutes per contest. He averaged 19.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 51.5% from the field and 32.9% from the floor.

This past season, he only played in the G League and wasn’t on a contract with the big club. However, he appeared in even more games (50) with the Vipers, playing 31.8 minutes per game. He averaged 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 49.8% from the field and 31.1% from beyond the arc.

At every level he’s played at, Samuels’ biggest problem has been the lack of a consistent three-point shot. His best three-point shooting season was with the Mad Ants during his first G League campaign. He shot 46.4% from distance but only took 1.25 attempts per contest. In each of the following two seasons, he increased his volume to 3.8 attempts and then 3.82 attempts. And with the increase, his percentages dipped.

That said, if the 26-year-old can improve his three-point shot while playing in Spain, perhaps an NBA return could be in his future at some point down the line.