How Important is it to like they guys on the Team?

Semi-important but it’s rare to like everyone on the team. I dont think I like KD very much off the court, but he’s one of the best players I’ve ever seen. Plays hard. I guess for me it’s about playing hard more than likening a personality. But I really like our team. It’s a really solid group of guys. I actually grew to love Dillon and really thought Jalen was a good kid.

 

Hard to say we really know any of these guys. We know how they react to cameras in their faces and large crowds. But most of us will never actually sit down and have a conversation with a player. We don’t ever really know them. They might just be shy but come off as arrogant and aloof.

I don’t want to hate any players on my team, but as long as they’re not kicking babies or making controversial statements almost as if they just want to stir the pot, then I don’t think I care.

I can’t really think of a player I really disliked since Pippen, though. Some I didn’t like, but not many that I DISliked.

 

It doesn't really matter whether I like the players per se, it's a parasocial relationship and I don't really know them. I'd imagine a large percentage of pro athletes are very egotistical and wouldn't be that great to spend time with. But it's somewhat important to me that they not be objectively terrible human beings. It's hard to root for a player when you're disgusted by their actions.

 

Same with Kobe. I couldn't stand his arrogance.

 

I agree with this.

 

I don't concern myself with who they are as people, if they are good, I'm happy, if they aren't good, I'm not happy.... so if we're talking about if I personally "like them", it's of least concern.

The only thing that matters to me is the quality of them playing a game for my entertainment. Their personal life is none of my business.

 

Eh, unless theyre in legal problems like domestic abuse, child endangerment, etc then we dont really know the type of person they are. Style of play is more important. I cheered for the rockets through harden but i did not watch as many games as i did before and after. Wasnt a style I enjoyed watching.

 

Doesn't matter for 3 hours

 

I think we don’t know most of them, but we want to like them if they’re on our team, so we sort of give them the benefit of the doubt and probably give them more credit for being great guys than we should. It makes it a lot more fun if you’re rooting for a Jose Altuve or Amen Thompson. Then when a KPJ comes around you feel conflicted, especially if he plays well.

 

I don't think we're obligated to like anybody, but I do always support everyone wearing our team colors! I've had my share of players I really didn't care for over the years--Terrence Jones, KPJ, Daishen Nix, Anthony Lamb, Danuel House, late-stage Christian Wood...but overall I think our front office has always been good about making teams that are easy to root for!

This season, with all the competitive and high-character guys we have, should be really fun! I literally cannot wait for the season to start...but we have more than three months :/

 

Not important in the slightest, the only thing that matters is what they do on the court. However, I will say that I'm more likely to continue to follow a player's career or just see them as one of my favourites if I also think they're a good person.

 

I just want them to be good citizens of the world. Some I like more than others, but if they are not hitting women, committing crimes, or the like then I will be okay with them. I don't really know athletes personally so sure, I like some better than others from the outside looking in. However, the saying of never meet your idols is pretty true. I liked when Harden was playing here even though I'm not big on guys going to strip clubs and partying like crazy, rather they be in the gym, but I can live with it as a fan. I can't live with robbing, abusing, raping, etc. I don't need no players acting like Diddy.

In short, probably the third option, rather lose with our guys than with a-holes is the closest to me.

 

What just happened here? Like them in what kind of way? Its not like they are going to be your friends or anything. Having said that its cool to see development of players and the process of them getting better so I would rather have home grown players doing well than trade ins.

 

Very rare to really dislike a player the Rockets brought in. Only one I could even think of was Scottie Pippen. Like the only players in league right now who would qualify for that list would probably be like Draymond and Steph.

More often would be to not be a huge fan of a players fit with the team or style of play, and honestly then it only matters if they win.

 

Funny how winning immediately makes everyone on the team "likeable", "troubled but at least he kept it together for a couple of years", or "scumbag, but at least he's OUR scumbag."

I don't know a single Houstonian who disavows the 2017 WS because of the sign stealing; everyone was doing it, they proved it wasn't a fluke in 2022, screw everyone, banners fly forever. Vernon Maxwell was the "necessary kind of crazy" that it took to win in '94, even though he literally quit on the team in '95, has a trainwreck of a wiki page that is probably worse than KPJ, but he's still seen as a Rocket legend who should be involved with the organization.

Championships are too hard to win to worry about whether every person on your team is "one of our guys". I guarantee that there is no person too heinous or act so egregious that we won't somehow find a way to reshape the narrative around to minimize them or erase them from history and still celebrate that team.