Rockets' hierarchy is becoming increasingly clear as postseason continues

The Houston Rockets aren't sure who their franchise player is.

Is it Alperen Sengun? He's the safest bet on the roster. Still, nobody could rightly say that Sengun has unambiguously established himself as a future All-NBA mainstay. He's got the potential to get there, but it's not a foregone conclusion.

Amen Thompson may have the highest ceiling on the team. His blend of outlier athleticism and high feel is exceedingly rare. That said, he may not be a franchise-caliber player if he can't develop his jump shot. In 2025, a lead ball-handler without a jumper is a tough sell.

Nobody knows what the future holds. It's possible that neither Sengun or Thompson is the Rockets' franchise player.

It is becoming clear that they're the two most important players on this team.

Rockets have found a dynamic duo

Sengun has been incredible through 5 playoff games. He's averaging 20.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game. His 51.6 True Shooting % (TS%) leaves something to be desired, but Sengun has been Houston's most impactful player. His 5.7 Box Plus/Minus (BPM) reflects as much.

His defense has been his most impressive attribute. Questions about his ability to defend in the playoffs have been prominent. Those were understandable concerns, but Sengun is alleviating them. He's been an above average defender throughout this series by any standard.

Thompson's postseason performance has been more of a mixed bag. That's to be expected from a sophomore. Thompson took some time to heat up, but by Game 5, he was scalding. Thompson had an outstanding 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals.

In the aggregate, his postseason numbers look solid. Thompson is averaging 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks per game with a 60.2 TS% and a BPM of 4.1. He's been less consistent than Sengun - Thompson has especially struggled to generate offense at times - but all told, he's looked like a future star.

The Rockets couldn't ask for more.

Rockets have a bright future

There are questions about the fit between Sengun and Thompson. Both are problematic shooters. They both operate best when the paint is available to them.

That said, we've seen teams find success with two subpar shooters. If the Rockets surround their duo with plus shooters in the future, that could be enough to contend for the NBA title.

Unless neither is an All-NBA talent, that is. Still, the Rockets could form a Big 3 if their eventual alpha acquisition is a sniper. Adding a franchise player without giving either up will be difficult, but the Rockets may have enough young players and assets to get it done.

Alternatively, the Rockets could trade one of them. Even if they move one for Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, it will still have been accurate in hindsight to say that guy was one of their two most important players as of May 1, 2025.

If one or the other emerges as a franchise player, all the better.