2 Houston Rockets international players that never played a single minute

2. Issuf Sanon

At 23-years-old, Issuf Sanon is easily in the peak of his career. Sanon has always possessed great athleticism, coupled with the ability to finish at a high percentage near the cup. 

And let's not even mention his crossover. Sanon is a true point guard, as evidenced by his ability to thrive in the pick-and-roll. Sanon was initially noticed as a member of the Under 18 FIBA Junior Team in 2017, when he averaged 19.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.4 steals, all as a teenager. 

Sanon was viewed as a can't-miss-prospect, as many considered him to be a surefire top-ten draft pick. Sanon was selected in the second-round of the 2018 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards and had his best season one year later, averaging 12.6 points, 50.3 percent from the floor, and 34.4 percent from long-range.

The Ukranian guard was eventually thrown into the deal that sent Austin Rivers to the New York Knicks in 2020. Sanon’s draft rights were renounced shortly after he was acquired by the Rockets and he has remained an unrestricted free agent ever since.

In 2022, Sanon averaged 12.2 points, 3.2 assists, 44.8 percent from the field, and 33.3 percent from long-range. Sanon will likely never wear an NBA uniform, as he seems to prefer the FIBA style of play.

This is unfortunate, as the Rockets could've used him during their rebuild.