The Houston Rockets might have made one of the smartest coaching hires they could make. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Chip Engelland is joining Ime Udoka’s coaching staff after spending the past four seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Shams as per ESPN:
“The Houston Rockets are hiring Chip Engelland as a new assistant coach on Ime Udoka’s staff, sources tell ESPN. Engelland — well-regarded in player development and shooting speciality — spent the last four seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder after a 17-year run in San Antonio (2005-2022) where he built a relationship with Udoka.”
Before helping OKC develop into a Western Conference force and NBA champion, Engelland spent 17 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs as arguably the NBA’s greatest shooting coach.
Engelland played a pivotal role in refining the jump shots of Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, and countless Spurs players, turning good shooters into elite ones and helping fuel a championship powerhouse.
The Rockets have an exciting young core built on defense and athleticism, but have a major weakness when it comes to shooting. Here are the five players who stand to benefit the most.
5. Jabari Smith Jr.
The 23-year-old Jabari Smith Jr. looks like a perfect NBA forward. At 6’11” with a smooth shooting stroke from mid-range, he’s capable of stretching defenses while guarding multiple positions. But he isn’t a consistent shooter yet, especially from deep.
Last season, Smith averaged 15.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.9 BPG while shooting 45.0% from the field, 36.3% from three, and 77.5% from the free-throw line. Over his four-year career so far, Smith is shooting 43.7% from the field, 34.7% from three, and 79.6% from the stripe.
Those numbers are solid, but they aren’t what is expected from the No. 3 overall pick.
That’s where Engelland could make a huge impact. Smith’s shooting mechanics aren’t broken, but his release can become rushed under pressure, and his confidence has fluctuated during shooting slumps. At times, Smith’s shot looks flat, and there have been some ugly misses last season.
We can’t name many coaches who have a better track record of helping talented shooters become reliable knockdown threats.
If Smith becomes a 39-40% three-point shooter while still doing his job on defense and on the boards, he could be a Most Improved Player candidate.
4. Reed Sheppard
Reed Sheppard is the best natural shooter on the team not named Kevin Durant, and he will likely be an elite shooter regardless, but Engelland could make him get there sooner rather than later.
The former Kentucky star entered the NBA with a reputation as one of the best shooters in his draft class, but his rookie season featured limited opportunities behind Houston’s veteran-heavy rotation. He only played 52 games with an average of 12.6 MPG, but last season was his first shot as a major contributor.
Sheppard averaged 26.2 MPG, posting 13.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.5 SPG, and 0.7 BPG on 43.0% from the field and 39.4% from deep. His numbers dropped to 12.2 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 4.7 APG, 2.2 SPG, and 0.8 BPG on only 30.7% from the field and 29.6% from three.
The numbers show that Sheppard flashed the impact that made him a lottery selection.
Luckily, Engelland is exceptional at helping players become more confident overall. Sheppard already has the natural and elite mechanics; now it’s about making those skills translate consistently against NBA defenses.
A better Sheppard automatically boosts the Rockets into a greater territory in the Western Conference.
3. Alperen Sengun
Alperen Sengun doesn’t need to become an elite three-point shooter, because that’s not who he is at the center position. But if he becomes even an average one, the Rockets’ offense reaches another level.
The All-Star center enjoyed a solid campaign, averaging 20.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, and 1.1 BPG while shooting 51.9% from the field, only 30.5% from three, and 69.1% from the stripe. His footwork, passing, and post scoring gave him the nickname “Baby Jokic”.
The Turkish big man is only shooting 51.8% from the field, 28.1% from deep, and 69.9% from the stripe. Those aren’t great clips for a big man who does all his damage down low and has two All-Star appearances.
The one glaring weakness is his perimeter shooting, and that continues to hurt Houston’s offense. Sengun shot just 30.5% from three-point range, allowing defenses to sag off him outside the paint, and he is considered a franchise cornerstone after all.
Engelland has helped numerous players expand their offensive games over the years. If Sengun becomes a dependable pick-and-pop threat, even on limited volume, it would dramatically improve Houston’s spacing.
2. Tari Eason
When healthy, Tari Eason has been one of the Rockets’ most impactful players. That’s why the Rockets signed him to an $81.5M offer sheet despite an up-and-down season for him last season.
No doubt, Eason’s relentless motor consistently changes games, and he held a solid 11.5 DEF RTG as a 6’8″ forward with a 7’2″ wingspan.
The energetic forward averaged 10.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.2 SPG, and 0.5 BPG while shooting 41.6% from the field, 35.8% from three, and 77.6% from the stripe. Over his career, Eason is hitting 45.1% from the field, 35.0% from deep, and 74.8% from the stripe.
His outside shooting, however, still has room for improvement. Eason connected on 35.0% of his three-point attempts, respectable but not yet enough to force defenses into difficult closeouts.
He also had some awful shooting slumps that made him almost unplayable at times.
If Engelland helps Eason become a reliable 38% shooter, Houston would have one of the league’s best two-way role players. An elite defender who can make threes would raise his value, which could make him worth over $150M for a long-term deal on his next contract.
1. Amen Thompson
No player could benefit more from Chip Engelland’s arrival than Amen Thompson, because everything else is already there.
Thompson is a superstar in the making because his physical gifts are extraordinary. He is 6’7″ with a 7’0″ wingspan and 44″ vertical with natural defensive mechanics. What he brings to the table cannot be taught.
He averaged 18.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.5 SPG, and 0.6 BPG while shooting 53.4% from the field. At just 23 years old, he’s already one of the best defensive and transition players in the NBA.
The only glaring weakness is his perimeter shooting.
Thompson converted just 21.6% of his three-pointers last season, allowing defenses to go under screens and clog driving lanes. He is averaging only 21.9% from three over his career, and his free-throw shooting hasn’t been impressive either.
He is nailing 73.1% from the stripe over his career, and he simply cannot be trusted to consistently make shots to have a legitimate impact against elite opposition.
Shooting is the one flaw preventing him from becoming a complete offensive force, and what continues to hurt Houston’s offense.
There’s perhaps no better coach in basketball to address that weakness than Engelland. He famously helped transform Kawhi Leonard from a questionable outside shooter into one of the league’s best mid-range and three-point scorers.
If Amen becomes a league-average three-point shooter, the Rockets could have an All-NBA player on their hands.
