On January 3, Beijing time, there was no Rockets game today, but they are still the focus of media attention. Why? In the previous game against the Nuggets, the Rockets locker room broke out infighting! Kevin Porter Jr. left the arena and Wood refused to play in the second half. At the beginning of 2022, the Rockets' locker room had a big problem...
According to NBA star Shams, the Rockets lost 77 points in the first half, and at halftime, assistant coach Lucas criticized several players, including Porter and Wood. Potter lost control of his emotions directly, and he broke out into a fierce quarrel with Lucas and threw things at Lucas. After making a big fuss in the locker room, Porter drove straight away from the Rockets home.
Rockets officially claimed Potter injured his left thigh and therefore did not return. Rockets coach Silas said after the game that Wood violated team rules and did not play in the second half, but he declined to say why. But Silas also admitted to an argument in the dressing room: "I just want them to play hard!" I'm not happy with how hard they worked! Everyone was angry. ”
This isn't the first time Kevin Potter Jr. has hit someone with something! In early January 2021, he was still playing for the Cavaliers. Potter found his locker being used by his teammates and immediately went into a rage in the locker room, yelling and smashing with food. General Manager Altman came to appease and persuade him, but Porter also clashed with him.
The use of lockers was a trivial matter that turned out to be a joke for the whole league. The Cavaliers were furious and demanded that Potter clean up the lockers and leave the team immediately. On January 22, 2021, the Rockets traded Kevin Porter Jr. from the Cavaliers with a protected second-round pick. Knowing that it is a locker room "time bomb", is the Rockets deal not a suicide?
Rockets assistant coach John Lucas has helped several NBA players overcome personal problems and get them back on track, and the Rockets believe he can help Kevin Porter Jr. solve the problem. Little did he know that Potter would clash with Lucas. After D'Antoni left that year, Both Westbrook and Harden supported Lucas as rocket coach.
Lucas has been a rocket assistant coach since 2016 and has been in the past five years. Harden respected him so much that even after leaving the team, every time he played against the Rockets, Harden had to hug Lucas and greet him. Look at Kevin Porter Jr., clashing with the general manager at the Cavaliers and the well-respected Lucas at the Rockets, isn't that the league's first time bomb?
The latest news said that the Rockets have spoken to Porter, who has also apologized to the team. So far this season, Porter has averaged 12.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. Shooting 36.8 percent from the field, 32.8 percent from three-point range, and 62.5 percent from the free throws, the scoring efficiency is fairly average. After this conflict, his rocket career entered the countdown.
Off the pitch, he was also a trouble. In October 2020, Porter posted an all-black image and wrote, "Do you want to see the end of your life?" "The Cavaliers he was in at the time thought Potter was going to die, so they quickly contacted him!" Two months later, Porter was arrested by police on suspicion of illegally manipulating guns.
Kevin Porter Jr., 21, is the no. 30 pick in the first round of 2019. He was okay with the Rockets last season, averaging 16.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. From another point of view, even if you are an All-Star player and can't get along with the coach and general manager, it is difficult to get a foothold in this league. There are so many good players, you are not irreplaceable!