{"id":174388,"date":"2026-01-25T12:30:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T17:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=174388"},"modified":"2026-01-25T11:55:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T16:55:41","slug":"checking-in-on-rockets-once-key-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/01\/25\/checking-in-on-rockets-once-key-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Checking In On Rockets’ Once Key Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2025-26 Rockets have constructed their identity around bruising physicality and backbreaking offensive rebounding. The embodiment of that philosophy is NBA-wide fan favorite Steven Adams<\/a>. Unfortunately, Adams is out indefinitely<\/a> with a grade 3 ankle sprain. It’s time to check in on his one-time competitor as a top center in the league, and current backup, Rockets center Clint Capela<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Checking In On Rockets’ Once Key Center<\/h2>\n

Capela (“my’fella” in the words of Bill Worrell<\/a>) will always have a place to call home in the hearts of Rockets fans. He was part of a pseudo big three for the franchise in their 2018 run. The trio of Capela, James Harden<\/a>, and Chris Paul<\/a> were 42-3<\/a> in the games they all appeared in that season. That team made the Western Conference Finals and almost beat the superteam Golden State Warriors. It took a Paul hamstring injury and 27 straight missed threes for the Rockets to finally lose in seven games.<\/p>\n