The arrival of Kevin Durant unlocks an overlooked weapon for the Rockets

When is it The Houston Rockets needed a spark a week into the season, it came from Josh Okogie. When they needed another boost during Wednesday’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies, it came from him again.

Okogie, formerly viewed as a Kevin Durant will round out the rosterhas quickly become one of the Rockets’ most vital players through the first seven games of the season.

Houston started the season 0-2 and needed a spark. That’s when head coach Ime Udoka decided to move away from the Rockets’ patented two-big lineup they’ve built over the past nine months and insert Okogie into the starting lineup in place of the taller Steven Adams.

Since that change? The Rockets didn’t look back. They went a perfect 5-0, scored 110+ points in every game, and worked their way to the #1 offensive rating. They won by an average margin of 19.2, while every starter scored in double figures in every game. Even their assists have jumped by 10 per game since the lineup change.

A subtle change with huge results. Thank you, Josh Okogie.

When the Rockets were treading water in the third quarter of Wednesday’s game, it was Okogie who knocked down three straight 3-pointers to extend Houston’s lead to 21. Thanks again, Josh Okogie.

“Josh, I know when you’re going to make a three or not,” Alperen Sengun admitted after the game. “When you get the ball, spin it in your hands to make it the right way.”

Okogie was brought to Houston mainly because of his familiarity with Houston’s new star, Durant. The two played together the past two seasons for the Phoenix Suns. Okogie, familiar with Durant’s style, has a reputation as a three-and-D player — a reputation he’s lived up to so far in Houston by playing solid defense and knocking down a career-best 52 percent of his threes.

“It helped a lot,” Durant said of having Okogie by his side on the new team. “I know Josh like the back of my hand. Playing with him the last two years in Phoenix, I know exactly his mindset there. He’s a 94-foot, hard-nosed type of guy. He’s a drive-and-close finisher, makes the right type of play (at) the rim. I feel like this is the environment for him.”

Okogie was brought in on just a one-year deal, and hardly anyone noticed at the time. But now, he looks like the key that unlocked this Rockets team and, ironically, one of the best things about Durant in a Rockets uniform.

Durant’s presence certainly elevated the games of Sengun and Amen Thompson to a higher level. But it also helped bring Okogie to Houston, where he’s been the unsung hero leading the Rockets’ current five-game winning streak.