Rockets may have a hidden gem stashed on their bench

The Houston Rockets' guard rotation has been a topic of considerable discussion in 2025. They need to find more opportunities for JD Davison.

That's not to say it will be easy.

Sure, the Rockets' guard rotation is light - if you're strictly counting traditional guards. Reed Sheppard has emerged as a budding star, Aaron Holiday is solid, and that's about it. If you know anything about Ime Udoka, you know he's not shy about playing wings in the backcourt.

So, Amen Thompson has played 58% of his minutes at the 2 in 2025-26. Josh Okogie has seen 36% of his minutes there, and (surprisingly) 61% at the point guard spot. They're both integral rotation players, so minutes for Davidson will be scarce:

But Udoka should be actively looking for them.

Young Rockets guard has shown potential

If Davison is going to take anyone's spot, it's Holiday's. It's practically impossible to say who's been better between the two in 2025-26.

Per 100 possessions, Davison is averaging 19.2 points, 7.7 assists, 0.0 (yup) turnovers, and 2.9 steals per game to Holiday's 21.4 points, 4.1 assists, 3.0 turnovers, and 1.4 steals. Davidson has a scorching 77.4 True Shooting % (TS%) to Holiday's 63.4%. By those numbers alone, the edge goes to Davison.

Yet, that's not a fair way to look at it. Holiday is playing 13.5 minutes per game in 11 games to Davison's 7.4 minutes in 7 contests. Holiday has played legitimate minutes against first and second-string talent, whereas Davison has mostly been relegated to garbage time.

Sure - but what do you do when a young player performs well in garbage time? Isn't that the threshold for increasing their minutes? Davison has earned his opportunity:

And it would behoove the Rockets to give it to him.

Rockets' JD Davison could be part of the future

Here's the most significant stat: Davison is 23, and Holiday is 29. The former could be a Rockets' rotation player for a long time.

That's not to say the Rockets should outright give Davison Holiday's spot. This is a team with an eye on the NBA championship. The Rockets will operate in win-now mode moving forward.

Instead, Udoka should let Davison enter the game in Holiday's place just once in a while. See how it goes. It's unlikely that Davison will tank the team, and if he does, we have our answer. The best move for the team on a long-term basis is to explore his ability:

He could end the backcourt discussions once and for all.