17 points + 5 three-pointers! The Rockets took a bargain with 23-year-old G League MVP: He rose faster than Tanhualang?

On October 7, the Rockets defeated the Hawks 122-113 in the preseason. Both new players Durant and Finney Smith are absent, but the Rockets have another new player who has successfully robbed the show. He is JD Davidson, who won the G League MVP last season. In this game, he played for 22 minutes, made 6 of 9 shots, 5 of 7 three-pointers, scored 17 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists, and made 1 turnover, with a plus-negative value of +13. Davidson's score and plus-negative value ranked second in the game after Shin Kyung, and ranked first in the game with 5 three-pointers.

Davidson was the No. 53 pick in 2022, focusing on point guard position, playing for the Celtics for three seasons and has always been a marginal substitute. In the 2023-24 season, he followed the Celtics to win the championship.

Davidson averaged only 2.1 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game with the Celtics last season. However, Davidson won the game in the G League. In the 2023-24 season, Davidson averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game, shooting percentage of 45.1%, three-point shooting percentage of 26.6%, and free throw percentage of 68.2%, and was selected into the third team of the G League.

2024-25 season, Davidson averaged 25.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks per game, shooting percentage of 48.0%, three-point shooting percentage of 33.3%, and free throw shooting percentage of 74.2%. He won the G League MVP and was selected for the first team.

Rockets starting point guard Van Vleet suffered a torn ACL and will miss the entire 2025-26 season. There is a loophole in the Rockets' point guard position.

The Rockets specially inspected the point guard in the first preseason game. Shepard started for 14 minutes, made 2 of 6 shots, 1 of 4 three-pointers, 2 of 2 free throws, scored 7 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, with a plus-negative value of -1. Aaron Holiday played for 20 minutes, made 2 of 12 shots, 2 of 9 three-pointers, 2 of 2 free throws, scored 8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal, and made 4 turnovers, with a plus-minus value of +5.

Obviously, Davidson's performance in this battle completely surpassed Tanhua Shepard and Aaron Holiday. Judging from Davidson's past performance in the G League, shooting is not his specialty, and his three-point shooting percentage is not very high, but his three-point shooting is indeed improving. In this game, Davis made 5 of 7 three-pointers, and it seemed that the three-pointers had improved again. This is good news for Davidson and for the Rockets.

The transformation of three-pointers will make Davidson more competitive in the NBA, and the Rockets may have more important rotation players in the point guard position. Maybe he can fill the loopholes left by Van Jordan to a certain extent. Van Jordan is the champion point guard, and Davidson is also the champion point guard. Van Jordan made a comeback in the draft, will Davidson also make a comeback? After Van Jordan was reimbursed for the season, Tanhualang Shepard was highly expected by the Rockets, but perhaps Davidson, who has played in the NBA for three seasons, will rise faster.