Locked On Rockets - Daily Podcast On ...

The Locked On Rockets Podcast, hosted by Houston native and credentialed media member Jackson Gatlin, is the BEST and ONLY daily (Mon-Fri) Houston Rockets basketball podcast. Every day Jackson shares the latest news, speculation and analysis on Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, the Draft, Free Agency and the rest of the NBA. Previous guests include former Rockets Matt Bullard and Vernon Maxwell, legendary broadcaster Bill Worrell, current players Armoni Brooks, Jae'Sean Tate and more.


Part of the Locked On Podcast Network.

Sports
Basketball
151
How Ime Udoka's Houston Rockets Staff Is Growin...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost Frank (@ftank58) from Rockets Chop Shop to discuss how Ime Udoka's Houston Rockets coaching staff is coming together after more names popped up over the weekend, as well as other coaching movement around the NBA, including James Borrego signing in New Orleans (unfortunate), Stephen Silas signing as lead assistant in Detroit, Sam Cassell leaving Philly to join Boston, how all of that impacts Houston + the Rockets apparent interest in Jett Howard and the chances they might actually use that 20th pick in the NBA Draft.
33 min
152
Houston Rockets Coaching Staff Updates, Rafael ...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) discusses reports that Ime Udoka will be adding three of his former Boston Celtics assistants to his Houston Rockets coaching staff (Ben Sullivan, Aaron Miles & Mike Moser) and the increasing possibility of James Borrego joining as a lead assistant, as well as where things stand with John Lucas and Mahmoud Abdelfattah, Rafael Stones comments on the NBA Draft and Free Agency and how much input Udoka will have over those parts of the offseason, and lastly Alperen Sengun's Turkish interview reflecting on this past season and playing for Stephen Silas.
36 min
153
Overtime Elite Head Coach David Leitao Talks Ho...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by Overtime Elite City Reapers Head Coach David Leitao (@CoachDLeitao) to discuss Houston Rockets NBA Draft prospects Amen & Ausar Thompson, how Amen has grown and developed as a playmaker this past year, how capable Ausar is as a secondary creator on offense, addressing shooting concerns for both players, what makes them special compared to some of the other top talents in this year's NBA Draft, examples of their work ethic and leadership, expectations for how they will continue to adjust and develop at the NBA level, what makes Overtime Elite different from College or the G League, how his coaching experience with OTE compares to other stops on his coaching journey and more.
23 min
154
What Can Houston Rockets Learn From Heat, Celti...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) to discuss the Portland Trailblazers choosing to work out Amen & Ausar Thompson before any of the other NBA Draft lottery prospects, what they might do with pick No. 3 and how that effects the Houston Rockets, then the two take a look at what the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets have accomplished this postseason and some key takeaways and lessons the Rockets can learn from these teams moving forward.
39 min
155
How Does Philadelphia 76ers Hiring Nick Nurse I...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost Rockets Wire Editor Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) to discuss how the Philadelphia 76ers hiring Nick Nurse as their next head coach impacts the Houston Rockets pursuit of James Harden in free agency this offseason, whether the Nurse hire pushes Harden even further away from Philly or if this was a decision that he would have signed off on, weighing the different factors likely going into Harden's decision this summer, and the Rockets reportedly being "enamored" with Amen Thompson as a prospect and the possibility that leaks like this are intentional from the Houston front office this time around compared to last year.
34 min
156
What Is The Value Of Houston Rockets 4th Pick I...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost Frank (@ftank58) from Rockets Chop Shop to discuss trying to understand the value of the Houston Rockets owning the 4th pick in this year's NBA Draft and the different directions they could go with it, how the Toronto Raptors trying to trade into the top-4 of the draft could help Houston, and between Eric Gordon and Patrick Beverley which former Rockets guard would you like to see back in Houston next season and why?
34 min
157
Should The Houston Rockets Consider Ausar Thomp...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost and NBA Draft enthusiast Madison Moore (@MadManLeaks) to discuss the case for possibly taking Ausar Thompson OVER Amen Thompson with the 4th pick in this year's NBA Draft, highlighting the different roles they played for their team, why Ausar's playmaking is not far behind Amen's, differences in how each twin weaponizes their athleticism, how the drastic shooting improvements from Ausar provide added confidence he can develop other elements of his game and more.
31 min
158
Houston Rockets & Brooklyn Nets Trades? Three-T...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by Locked On Nets Host Doug Norrie (@DougNorrie) to discuss the off-seasons for the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets, what the goals for the Nets are moving forward and how that impacts the Brooklyn picks Houston owns, ways that the Rockets and Nets could get involved in two or three-team deals to facilitate some of those picks back to Brooklyn while helping Houston move up in the draft or get back established talent like Mikal Bridges and/or Nic Claxton, and the possibility of Houston being a team that could absorb the Ben Simmons contract.
44 min
159
James Harden Reportedly Houston Rockets Top Fre...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost Rockets Wire Editor Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) to discuss James Harden reportedly emerging as the Houston Rockets top free agency target this offseason, the concerns that come with a potential Harden return, what are the dealbreakers on a contract for James, how does pursuing Harden impact what the Rockets do with the 4th pick, how bringing Harden back elevates but can also hurt Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun and more.
39 min
160
Jalen Green Talks To Paul George About Offseaso...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) to discuss and react to Jalen Green appearance on Podcast P with Paul George (presented by Wave Sports + Entertainment, link below) talking about a variety of topics like what he's working on this offseason, his thoughts on the Rockets 4th overall pick and Amen Thompson vs. Brandon Miller, his first interaction with new head coach Ime Udoka out in Los Angeles, a possible James Harden return and what it could mean for the organization and more.
34 min
161
How Houston Rockets Can Trade UP With Hornets O...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost Frank (@ftank58) from Rockets Chop Shop to discuss ways the Houston Rockets can trade UP with the Charlotte Hornets or Portland Trailblazers to draft Scoot Henderson, how much should the Rockets be willing to trade to move up in the draft, reasons why the Hornets and Blazers might entertain trading their picks and more.
39 min
162
Houston Rockets Media Perception, Jalen, Sengun...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by NBA insider Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) to discuss the negative Houston Rockets culture perception and some of the possible reasons behind it, next steps for Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr., does a James Harden return make sense for Houston, and options the Rockets have with the #4 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
33 min
163
Ime Udoka's Plans For Houston Rockets Defense, ...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost Madison Moore (@MadManLeaks) to discuss major takeaways from Ime Udoka's Q&A sessions with Houston Rockets beat reporters Jonathan Feigen and Kelly Iko, highlighting how he is basically the anti-Silas in his plans for the team next season, with intentions to focus on not "dumbing things down" for players due to their ages, taking accountability as the head coach for what happens on the court, utilizing different defensive schemes to not leave players at a disadvantage, capitalizing on Alperen Sengun's strengths as a passer and Kevin Porter Jr.'s strengths as a shooter and much more.
33 min
164
Houston Rockets Confidence In #4 Pick + James H...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) to discuss more Houston Rockets reactions 24 hours after the NBA Draft Lottery, how Victor Wembanyama went from possible savior to public enemy number one with Rockets fans in less than a day, reasons for optimism and confidence in what Houston can do with the No. 4 pick, and Chris Haynes' James Harden report with some HUGE red flags regarding a potential return to Houston.
33 min
165
Houston Rockets Receive #4 Pick In 2023 NBA Dra...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) reacts to and discusses the Houston Rockets missing out on the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes and receiving the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, why Houston is still in an amazing spot with the fourth pick after missing out on Wemby, how Scoot Henderson may still be in play because of the teams ahead of the Rockets, the possibility of trading up OR down in the draft and more.
31 min
166
James Harden Back To Houston Heating Up + Rocke...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost Rockets Wire Editor Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) to discuss the James Harden back to Houston rumors heating up after the Philadelphia 76ers Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics, how it might be possible now to get Harden on a team-friendly deal or even via sign-and-trade, and understanding expectations if he were to come back to the Rockets. Then the two discuss the looming NBA Draft Lottery, the impact it will have on the Rockets and the NBA landscape, scenarios to watch for during the drawing and their final lottery predictions.
40 min
167
Tari Eason Houston Rockets Season Review: Excee...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by new weekly cohost Frank (@ftank58) from Rockets Chop Shop to review Tari Eason's rookie season, highlighting expectations coming into the year, winning impact in limited minutes, strong defense and three-point shooting, areas to work on moving forward, standout plays, key stats, overall season grade and more.
42 min
168
Ime Udoka Repping Houston Rockets At NBA Draft ...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) discusses Ime Udoka representing the Houston Rockets at the NBA Draft Lottery and how important it was that the organization and Udoka came to terms on his hiring process quickly with coaches like Mike Budenholzer and Monty Williams being fired from ready-made contenders in the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, followed by breaking down how Jalen Brown becoming supermax contract eligible makes pursuing him a lot more complicated for Houston, and lastly Jabari Smith Jr. switching his jersey number and some lottery simulations to prepare for doomsday.
32 min
169
Scoot Henderson Houston Rockets 2023 NBA Draft ...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost and NBA draft enthusiast Madison Moore (@MadManLeaks) to break down and discuss Houston Rockets 2023 NBA Draft Prospect Scoot Henderson, highlighting strengths (athleticism, playmaking, feel for the game) and weaknesses (size, outside shooting), possible NBA comps, how his skills will translate to the NBA level, fit with the Houston Rockets and more.
35 min
170
Alperen Sengun Houston Rockets Season Review: O...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) to review Alperen Sengun's second season, highlighting expectations coming into the year, adjusting to the starting center role, areas of growth like defense, rebounding, shot creation and efficiency, important games, standout plays, key stats, overall season grade and more.
37 min
171
Kevin Porter Jr. Houston Rockets Season Review:...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost Rockets Wire Editor Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) to to discuss Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason's selections to the All-Rookie Second Team before reviewing Kevin Porter Jr.'s year, highlighting expectations coming into the season, areas of growth like playmaking, efficiency and taking care of the basketball, important games, standout plays, key stats, overall season grade and more.
40 min
172
What Ime Udoka Brings To Houston Rockets + How ...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by Houston Rockets broadcaster and former NBA player Ryan Hollins (@TheRyanHollins) to discuss what Ime Udoka will bring as head coach of the Rockets, how guys like Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun grew this past year, best game of the season, future of KJ Martin and where he can improve, the hype surrounding Victor Wembanyama and more.
38 min
173
Victor Wembanyama Houston Rockets 2023 NBA Draf...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost and NBA draft enthusiast Madison Moore (@MadManLeaks) to break down and discuss Houston Rockets 2023 NBA Draft Prospect Victor Wembanyama, highlighting strengths (defensive versatility, offensive bag as a big) and weaknesses (injury risk, outside shooting, processing speed), possible NBA comps, how his skills will translate to the NBA level, fit with the Houston Rockets and more.
36 min
174
Houston Rockets Free Agency Targets: Curry, Bro...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by Frank (@ftank58) from Rockets Chop Shop (@RocketsChopShop) to discuss how much the NBA Draft Lottery impacts the Houston Rockets free agency decisions this offseason depending on if Houston walks away with one of Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, Brandon Miller or another tier prospect, what the Rockets biggest needs are across the roster, possible names to pursue like Cam Johnson and Dillon Brooks, Austin Reaves and Seth Curry, and Brook Lopez and Kristaps Porzingis and more.
47 min
175
Jabari Smith Jr. Houston Rockets Season Review:...
Host Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) is joined by weekly cohost Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) to review Jabari Smith Jr's rookie season, highlighting expectations coming into the year, areas of growth like defense, rebounding, shot profile and playmaking, important games, standout plays, key stats, overall season grade and more.
32 min