Ben Dixon returns this year for a third season in Reading, hoping to build on his previous campaigns to produce a winning season for the Rockets. At 28 years old, the Australian national has established himself as a key part of the roster and team culture with the Rockets and will prove his value this year as a member of an increasingly talented roster.
Standing at 6’1”, Ben operates primarily as a point guard where his game management and dribble keep things moving for the offense. He offers something slightly different to the other guards on the roster, producing his offense as a live-dribble creator who operates primarily in the mid-range. His time with the Rockets has shown steady offensive production, and during the 2020/21 season he smartly traded off some shooting volume for more efficient scoring. He limited his 3PA to just under 2 a game, one of the lowest rates on last year’s roster, but was able to convert on over 35% of those shots. With so many talented and willing shooters around him, Ben has become adept at attacking the interior space when other teams key in on all the Rockets’ shooting weapons, allowing him to access his midrange and challenge opposing bigs to step away from the paint. This element of Ben’s game promises to keep generating good looks for himself and others, as he collapses the defense and uses his guard skills to kick out passes to open shooters or find cutters when he commands the attention of the opposition center.
Ben’s time with Reading was immediately preceded by stints in the Australian NBL – a highly competitive league which has produced a number of high-level NBA players in the past 30 years. Though his playing time there was limited, the opportunity to test himself in one of the best international leagues prepared him well to assume a bigger role with the Rockets when he made the move to the UK. With dual Australian-UK nationality and family based near to Reading, he’s settled in well on and off the court since he arrived and continues to be a key leader for the team, setting a good example for younger and newer signings who are trying to carve out a role within the squad. Coach Pearson said that his “experience and headiness will be key to our success and we expect him to balance our group in a multitude of ways”, and his talents as a leader and creator will be on full display as he hits the floor this season.
The Rockets will be looking to Ben for guidance and stability as an established team player, and if the past two years are anything to go by he’ll be sure to deliver night in and night out. We can’t wait to see him rocking his number 8 jersey for another year and leading the Rockets to success!