The Houston Rockets have agreed to sign JD Davison, the 2025 NBA G League Most Valuable Player, following his waiver from the Boston Celtics on July 24. The move was confirmed by NBA insider Chris Haynes.
G League Dominance and Brief NBA Stints
Davison amassed an exceptional performance in the G League with the Maine Celtics, earning MVP honors by averaging 25.1 points, 7.5 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, while leading Maine to the Eastern Conference finals.Despite his minor role in Boston, appearing in just 36 NBA games over three seasons and averaging 1.9 points in 5.5 minutes per game, he was unable to secure a long-term spot with the Celtics.
Contract Terms: Two‑Way Opportunity
Davison has signed a one-year two‑way contract with the Rockets, marking his final year of eligibility for such a deal. The arrangement allows him to split time between the NBA roster and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the G League.
Backcourt Competition in Houston
In Houston, Davison will face significant competition for minutes behind established players such as Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Josh Okogie, and Aaron Holiday, while also competing with Isaiah Crawford, another recent two‑way signee.. The Rockets enter training camp with just one of their two-way slots previously occupied, opening pathway for him to earn significant opportunities.
Why This Move Matters
- Reviving a G League MVP: Davison’s outstanding minor‑league successes earn him a fresh shot at NBA rotation minutes in a developmental role with potential to impress.
- Roster Economics and Strategy: A two-way deal allows Houston to evaluate his readiness while maintaining roster flexibility under the salary cap structure.
- Developmental Depth: The Rockets’ growing backcourt depth benefits from Davison’s versatility—he can handle playmaking, defense, and pace-setting in the G League with potential NBA usage if injuries or opportunities arise.
Looking Ahead
Davison must prove himself during Summer League and training camp to earn further chances at the NBA level. For Houston, the bet is on his ability to translate G League dominance into meaningful contributions on both ends of the floor as he competes for a place in the backcourt rotation or proves vital as a depth guard in long stretches of the season.
This move reflects Houston’s continued focus on adding young, high-upside talent via flexible contract structures and monitoring whether the former Alabama standout can make the leap to consistent NBA impact.
1 comment
I feel every young player in the G League deserves an opportunity to shine on the big stage in the NBA! If I had the money and time, I would put together a roster of G League all stars and call them Da up and Comers, some youngers that are hungry and put them in the Eastern Conference to prove these youngers are no joke and deserve their opportunity to shine on the big stage in the NBA! Take a young coach like Jerry Stackhouse from the Golden State Warriors giving him a two year contract with an option for a third year depending on how the first two years ago! The team will stress defense cause every team knows defense wins championships! Seroumd himself with hungry assistant coaches that want to help this team shine! The Oklahoma City Thunder proved these youngers are no joke by winning the NBA this year! The owner to lead this franchise will be Ice Cube who has done remarkable things with the Big 3 and deserves to prove he can lead an new NBA franchise to an NBA Championship within five years! It’s a golden opportunities to prove these hungry up and Comers are no joke stressing pressure defense for an opportunity to leave their mark in NBA history! The general manager will be Bob Myers who lead the Golden State Warriors to four NBA Championships and stress, “Scout for up and coming talent from the GLeague, Australia, China and other parts of the world! It will show there’s no sheriffs in town and they are ready to take over and shock the world on the big stage in the NBA! One thang, they gotta leave their egos at the door and come together playing as one team for a golden opportunity to shock the world and prove these youngers are no joke! Nuff Said!