Ok, so Houston Rockets and Houston Sports Twitter have been a hot mess for the entirety of 2020. On the front end, you had three things happen all at one time:
- The Astros cheating scandal was revealed and AJ Hinch and Jeff Lunhowe were fired
- Bill O’Brien’s Houston Texans were up 24-0 and lost by 20 to the Kansas City Chiefs
- The Houston Rockets stopped playing guys over 6’7”, and traded Clint Capela
Then in the middle of the summer, you had Houston sports all over your timeline again
- The Astros pitching dwindled, fans were upset they couldn’t be in the stands to boo them
- Bill O’Brien inexplicably traded DeAndre Hopkins for David Johnson and a pick, while there were other old running backs in the Free Agent market
- Russell Westbrook and James Harden were late to Orlando after Westbrook tested positive for COVID – 19
Then, in more recent news, you’ve had
- The Astros scandal became a Family Guy joke a couple of months after Houston lost in the ALCS in heartbreaking fashion
- Bill O’Brien has been fired, the Texans are just 4-8, can’t secure an under center snap, while DeAndre Hopkins is catching historic “Hail Marys”
- Mike D’Antoni is in Brooklyn, Daryl Morey is in Philadelphia, Russell Westbrook is in Washington, and James Harden is in Covid Protocol after holding out for part of training camp while in various gentlemen’s club
First, yes, there are theories for how this could all happen to one city at once. But while the Houston Rockets bear the brunt of it now, Houston sports have had a hell of a year. While you’ve kept up with these stories, the tweets, both humorous and informative, have continued to come from the same handful of accounts. Here are some of the best Houston Rockets specific Houston Sports accounts to follow.
Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane)
He covers the Houston Rockets for local sports radio on ”SportsRadio 610”. Adam is very dialed in to the city, but does an excellent job covering pressers. Great for quick, up to the minute news with little guise of his own opinion.
Stephen Silas says it will be “really cool” to walk on the floor as an NBA head coach for the first time tomorrow night and he will take “a minute to sit back and enjoy it”. pic.twitter.com/kYoUBpCOvk
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) December 10, 2020
Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider)
One of my favorite Rockets follows. Alykhan is all things Houston Rockets all the time. As a reporter for The Athletic, Alykhan breaks down film and gives insights that you could get in the actual Rockets’ film room. He also runs a youtube channel, and has been passionately covering the franchise since well before he was doing it professionally. He’s as informed and researched a fan as there could be.
Why does James Harden stand to the side at halfcourt?
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) January 13, 2020
I talked to players and coaches and got the answer. https://t.co/t52tUSD1it pic.twitter.com/so0lILBQ7o
Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose)
Ben is a relentless homer, though he would describe himself as a Houston sports defender. His expertise is the Rockets, but DuBose will be as quick to defend the Houston Astros as he is to claim the 2017 NBA MVP trophy. DuBose is great at twitter interaction with accounts both big and small, and he never hedges on anything Houston.
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) December 6, 2020
Big Sarge (@BigSargeSportz)
Big Sarge is one of the funnier named voices in Houston Rockets Twitter. Professionally, Sarge is the SportsEditor for Houston Style. Personally, he is quick to give his opinion, even if it means you unfollow him. A great follow for cold hard truths, according to Sarge.
Bill Cosby thanking Boosie is so 2020…
— BIG SARGE MEDIA (@BigSargeSportz) December 10, 2020
Bill O’Zimmerman (@The_Reliant)
Every Texan either knows a Bill O’Zimmerman or knows of a Bill O’Zimmerman. Bill tweets about bbq, fishing, high school football… and the Houston Rockets. Perhaps it’s just been the year Houston has had… but the nihilistic humor is always welcomed on any Rockets timeline,
A mosquito held the door open for me today. It’s December. https://t.co/Wdba2nFZbU
— Bill O’Zimmermann (@The_Reliant) December 10, 2020
Disney Gary Clark (@itamar1710)
Following Disney Gary Clark can be an emotional roller coaster for Rocket faithful. As pessimistic as O’Zimmerman is, Clark is ever the optimist. They came in as a fan of Morey, D’Antoni, and a young NBA player named Gary Clark. Now all three are in the East, but @itamar710 remains as loyal a Rockets fan as any. While they are a diehard fan of Houston, no one watches more game tape than Disney Gary Clark. Follow for videos and breakdowns of the schematics of the squad.
The fate of the Houston Rockets franchise is in your hands @JLEnterprises
— Disney Gary Clark (@Itamar1710) December 10, 2020
Forrest Walker (@DUNOTS)
Forrest is a great follow for folks who want a sports-adjacent Houston Rockets presence on the timeline. As into film deep dives as @itamar710 is, Forrest Walker is quicker to discuss Detective Pikachu as a film. He knows his Rockets, and has a great pulse for the fanbase… but also knows when it’s time to talk about other things that are both actually far more important and actually far less important.
— Forrest Walker (@DUNOTS) December 7, 2020
H-Tine (@HTINETX)
Houston and Houston Rockets themed comedy. If you don’t get it, you won’t get it.
These pics go HARD ??? pic.twitter.com/FxQgfY49NL
— H-TINE (@HTINETX) December 10, 2020
Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin)
Podcaster and writer, Gatlin founded @ClutchCityCr. Gatlin is a great follow for a funny quote tweet of a WojBomb, and he is always up to the minute with information about the Houston Rockets.
Blessed be this day https://t.co/LLWLwfAgl9
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) December 10, 2020
Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA)
If you’re a fan of great writing and Houston Rockets basketball, you need to be following Kelly. Kelly is a brilliant reporter who follows things as messy as this team blowing up and as graceful as their near championship run in 2018. Iko now writes for The Athletic with longtime friend Alkhan Bijani, but has been a longtime fan. One of H-Town’s finest. Not only do you need to follow, but to be informed it’s smart to have him on alerts.
Rockets training camp notebook
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) December 10, 2020
▪️James Harden is back in Houston. What does that mean going forward?
▪️Coach Silas’ offense and how it benefits Danuel House’s playmaking
▪️Less switching, more stability in 2021? https://t.co/SSDCMKaRZE
Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon)
For high quality reporting, the most up to the minute information, and great writing without a paywall, Texas professional basketball revolves around Tim MacMahon. Not only do you need to follow, but to be informed it’s smart to have him on alerts as well.
ESPN story on the Rockets awaiting word from the NBA on James Harden’s post-holdout COVID protocol to be cleared to practice: https://t.co/tu31fsDAqY
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 9, 2020
Rob Kimbell (@RobKSports)
Rob is a great account to follow for those entering Houston Rockets’ Twitter because he is always retweeting any new information to be had. He stays on top of it and questions when appropriate. He does a great job on hitting the emotion of the fan in conjunction with the information of a reporter.
Wall and Boogie finally reunited ??? pic.twitter.com/o1ExZ1QO4R
— Rob Kimbell (@RobKSports) December 3, 2020
Roosh (@RooshWilliams)
Roosh is a converted hip hop artist that now podcasts about the Houston Rockets. Williams is very informed and understand basketball at a high level, but his interaction with fellow tweeters sets him apart. For reference as to who Roosh is:
I’m 31 and I still bark in unison with DMX when jamming his music
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) December 6, 2020
Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA)
Ali covers the Rockets for ESPN radio and a few smaller Rockets specific works. The reason to follow Salman is for his newsletter. He’s great on the timeline, but getting to have a fellow fan venting with you in your email inbox is worthy of making the list.
$226 million for Paul George in this economy?
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) December 10, 2020
Space City Sports (@LiveSCS)
Funny gifs and memes surrounding Houston sports. Always an appreciative fan of all things Houston, but never afraid to call it like it is.
https://t.co/pw2ANkP5Xb pic.twitter.com/B1IuJD3amd
— ????? ???? ?????? (@LiveSCS) December 4, 2020
StanfordKP (@stanfordkp)
Stanford is one of Houston Rockets’ Twitter masters of the transaction. He always has a key beat for cap issues, and is up to date on the ins and outs of what can realistically happen and where. With a team in so much flux, he’s a must follow. Also interacts with other Houston sports accounts often, offering a fun back and forth.
SMH – The Daryl Knight. https://t.co/IdYPm9RQgi
— StanfordKP (@stanfordkp) December 8, 2020
WallNinetyFour / Founder of John Wall Fan Club (@RedNinetyFour)
Lawyer in body, cartoon in (profile picture) body, pessimistic diehard by heart. RedNinetyFour writes for Forbes Sports, and has already talked himself into being all in on the John Wall train. He understands Twitter, but RedNinetyFour’s biggest strength is being the account to relate to when you just think everything is going up in flames. We all have those days. RedNinetyFour only has those days.
After finishing “Gilbert Arenas Explains Why He Stepped Aside And Let John Wall LEAD The Wizards” I have literally no John Wall content left to watch tomorrow night can’t come soon enough
— WallNinetyFour / Founder of John Wall Fan Club (@RedNinetyFour) December 11, 2020
And of course…
For more on sports, sneakers, and the Houston Rockets, follow ME @painsworth512 for more, and give our podcast “F” In Sports a listen wherever you listen to podcasts!
