JD Davison Makes His Case in Houston: A True Point Guard in a Time of Need
JD Davison might be flying under the radar nationally, but in Houston, he’s starting to look like exactly what the Rockets have been missing - a true point guard with poise, pace, and playmaking instincts.
The former five-star recruit and top point guard in his high school class has been on the NBA radar since 2021, but it’s his recent performance that’s forcing the Rockets - and head coach Ime Udoka - to take notice. After a standout G League campaign that ended with MVP honors, Davison landed in Houston on a two-way deal this summer. And while those types of contracts often come with limited expectations, Davison has quietly been building a case for a much larger role.
That case got a whole lot louder on Tuesday night.
With Fred VanVleet sidelined by a major ACL injury, the Rockets have been scrambling to fill the void at point guard. They’ve tried Amen Thompson in that role, despite his more natural fit as a wing. At times, they’ve even leaned on Kevin Durant to initiate the offense - a less-than-ideal solution for a team trying to establish rhythm and structure.
Enter Davison.
In 24 minutes against the Chicago Bulls, Davison brought exactly what Houston’s been lacking: control, communication, and a clear sense of how to run an offense. His stat line - nine points, seven rebounds, four assists, one block, zero turnovers - doesn’t just look good on paper. It reflects a player who made smart decisions, took care of the ball, and elevated the team’s tempo and energy.
He shot 3-of-6 from the field, including 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, and posted a true shooting percentage just north of 61%. But beyond the numbers, it was the way he played that stood out.
Davison pushed the pace, got the Rockets into their sets, and brought a vocal presence that’s been sorely missing since VanVleet went down. He looked comfortable in pick-and-roll action - something no other guard on the roster has consistently delivered - and showed a natural feel for when to attack and when to facilitate.
At just 6-foot-1, Davison isn’t the biggest guard on the floor, but he doesn’t shy away from contact. He got downhill, made the right reads, and held his own defensively. And when the game tightened up late, he was still out there - part of Houston’s closing lineup in a game that went down to the wire.
That kind of trust from a coach like Udoka doesn’t come easy. And it might be a sign of things to come.
The Rockets now find themselves facing a decision. Davison has played in 35 games this season - 15 shy of the 50-game limit for two-way players.
Once he hits that threshold, Houston will need to convert his deal to a standard contract if they want to keep him on the active roster. That would cost the team just over $900,000 for the remainder of the season - a small price to pay for a player who’s quickly proving he belongs in the rotation.
With VanVleet out and the Rockets searching for stability at the point, Davison’s emergence couldn’t be better timed. He’s not just filling in - he’s showing he might be the best option they have right now to run the show.
And if Tuesday night was any indication, he’s ready for more.