Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta makes wild statement about team's depth

Depth is a luxury in the NBA. It's one the Houston Rockets have been afforded.

This team is so deep that it's difficult to etch out their 2024-25 rotation. Talented players like Reed Sheppard and Cam Whitmore would start on plenty of rebuilding teams, but the Rockets may struggle to find 20 minutes a night for either.

Still, that depth will serve the Rockets well throughout the regular season. Most teams don't have as many rotation players to rely on. Are the Rockets the deepest team in the NBA?

Owner Tilman Fertitta thinks so. He just made that very proclamation. It's a controversial statement:

Is there any truth in it?

Rockets are among the league's deepest squads

No.

The Thunder are the deepest team in the NBA. It's practically irrefutable. Otherwise, the Rockets may have a case.

It depends on how you define "depth". The Celtics would certainly like a word. They've got an 8-man rotation that comfortably surpasses Houston's, but once you start getting down to the 10th man in the rotation, Houston may have the edge. Meanwhile, the same could be said for the Knicks - they've got one of the best 7-man rotations in the NBA at least.

Does that matter? When playoff time comes, your top 8 guys will define your success. Still, more depth is advantageous throughout the regular season. The Rockets are well-built to weather injuries, They can run a variety of matchup-dependent lineups.

That's all true for the Magic as well. They're set up similarly to the Rockets. Orlando has several players on rookie-scale deals, which helps them afford quality guys up and down the roster.

Otherwise? The Rockets are right there. Tillman may have indulged in some bluster, but his claims aren't as unfounded as some would suggest. The Rockets aren't the deepest team in the NBA, but they are one of the league's deepest teams. Let's revisit a question:

Does it matter?

The Rockets need a superstar

Let's look at the teams we just named.

The Thunder, Celtics, and Knicks are all title contenders. It's no coincidence that they all have a player who's at least sniffing around the top 10 players in the NBA.

Nobody is expecting the Rockets or Magic to make a play for the NBA title next year. That's fine - these are both mostly young teams with bright futures. Still, it does point to a harsh reality:

Top-end talent matters most in the NBA.

Who knows? Alperen Sengun could make another leap this year - or, if you're concerned about Orlando, Paolo Banchero could too. As far as the Rockets are concerned, their depth will be useful throughout the year, but they still need to find their north star:

Whether they're the deepest team in the NBA or not.