18 people who turned their back on the Houston Rockets franchise

15. Kevin Porter Jr.

Despite being a lottery-level talent in the 2019 NBA Draft, Kevin Porter Jr. fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected him with the 30th pick in the first round- the final pick. Porter reportedly had character issues in college, which culminated in a suspension by USC head coach Andy Enfield.

Porter's troubles remained with the Cavs, who placed him on the trade block less than two full seasons into his NBA career. The Rockets, who were rebuilding at the time, took a gamble, hoping to maximize his potential on the court, while minimizing his troubles off the court. 

Porter was essentially given the keys to the franchise, while also being handed a new position as the team's starting point guard. Porter's attitude issues remained, as he often loafed on offense when he didn't have the ball.

Porter also frequently failed to get back on defense after missed shots or fouls, as Rockets coach Stephen Silas proved incapable of reeling him in. Things came to a head in January 2022 when Porter did the unthinkable and left a Rockets game after halftime and drove home, which still feels insane to type.

Porter got into a verbal altercation with longtime Rockets assistant John Lucas, which has been coined as a "spirited debate". Regardless of what you want to call it, we can all agree that he turned his back on the franchise.