[2] After a woeful 17–55 record compiled in the previous season[3] following the departure of James Harden in a trade to the Brooklyn Nets,[4][5] the Rockets started a new era by drafting Jalen Green from the G League with the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft.
The Rockets held the second pick in the 2021 NBA draft, along with two other first-round picks from the Portland Trail Blazers and the Milwaukee Bucks entering the draft.
The Rockets traded two future first-round picks[a] to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the draft rights to Turkish center Alperen Şengün of the Beşiktaş Icrypex.
[8] In addition to that pick, the Rockets would select the first ever player from the experimental NBA G League Ignite franchise in forward Jalen Green with the #2 pick of the draft, as well as select Spanish power forward/center Usman Garuba from Real Madrid Baloncesto and shooting guard Josh Christopher from Arizona State University as back-to-back late first round selections.
Notes The preseason and regular season schedule were announced on August 20, 2021.