SUMMARY
- The Rockets concluded their 2023-24 season with a win against the Clippers.
- Boban Marjanovic missed two free throws on purpose just to give Clippers fans a free meal.
Every player has a purpose to serve on a team, and Boban Marjanovic has been an important factor of hope for the Houston Rockets despite falling out of Play-In contention. Houston was once a dominant team during the late 2010s when James Harden contested for the MVP Award. However, they haven’t been the same since the 2018 MVP left the team in January 2021. Since then, Houston has finished last in the Western Conference twice while missing the playoffs consistently.
Number 1 fans. Number 1 supporters. 🤘
Thank y’all 🫶 pic.twitter.com/xnscAVOTy5
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 14, 2024
However, hiring Ime Udoka ahead of the 2023-24 season was a step in the right direction. Udoka was released from the Boston Celtics coaching team after he entertained a relationship with a co-worker. After the Rockets gave him a chance, they also acquired Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks during the off-season to add some veteran experience. They saw great success during the first half of the season but injuries crippled them towards the end.
Boban Marjanovic gets deemed “Man of the People” by fans worldwide
During the Rockets’ closer against the LA Clippers, Boban Marjanovic recorded a season-high 13 points and 8 rebounds. During the fourth quarter of the game, the Rockets were up 105-97 when Marjanovic was fouled and rewarded two free throws. Boban genuinely missed his first free throw but after realizing a second missed attempt would give Clippers fans a free meal, he missed it on purpose. The crowd erupted in joy while the announced said, “He’s the man of the people.”
There’s not enough FUN in sports nowadays. Boban is a gem.
— Chris (@PositivelyChris) April 15, 2024
That’s why he most lovable player from both fans and players
— Hoop Muse (@HoopMuse) April 15, 2024
The 35-year-old veteran won hearts across the world as one X user said, “There’s not enough FUN in sports nowadays. Boban is a gem.” Another user said, “That’s why he most lovable player from both fans and players.” Boban was once a part of the Clippers organization. He spent two seasons with the Clippers which is why he didn’t seem to have a problem giving LA fans some love. The 7’4” foot giant had fun on the floor as he also missed a jump ball against Xavier Moon, who is literally an entire foot shorter than him.
The Rockets conclude their hard-fought season on a good note
Houston eventually walked away with a victory while the Clippers did not play either of their four stars. It was Cam Whitmore who led the team in scoring 21 points along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Jalen Green only had 13 points while Amen Thompson finished with 18 points.
Boban Marjanovic and Nate Williams combined for 26 points coming off the bench. This win gave the Rockets an even 41-41 record this season. They narrowly missed surpassing the Golden State Warriors for the Play-In Tournament.
Their .500 record is surprisingly better than what the 9th-seeded Chicago Bulls and 10th-seeded Atlanta Hawks managed to achieve this season. Both of those teams are headed into the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament while the Rockets sit at 11th in the West.
This also shows how competitive the Western Conference is this season as the Play-In rankings weren’t decided until the final leg of games were played. Considering that Houston has a better record than most teams overall, they are projected to get a late first-round slot in the 2024 NBA Draft.