Hunter, born on October 24th in Ohio and a product of the University of Georgia, stands at 1.96 meters tall and weighs 83 kilograms. He expressed confidence in his growth since his rookie season and believes that the Rockets’ tactical system, which aligns with the one used by the Vipers, will help him thrive.
“In this system, I feel freer and able to move more on the court. When I was with the Eastern Conference teams, there wasn’t much running; it was more about physical contact,” Hunter said. “Now, these guys play a style similar to mine—moving a lot and shooting plenty of three-pointers.” Hunter also mentioned that the Rockets decided to sign him to a two-way contract after seeing his performance in the G League, which greatly boosted his confidence.
He also posted a picture of his signing on Instagram, stating: “What I asked for was simply an opportunity, and I’m deeply grateful to the Rockets.” In his career, Hunter has played 39 NBA games, all as a backup, averaging 8.3 minutes per game, 2.5 points, and 1 rebound with a shooting percentage of 36.4% and a three-point shooting percentage of 29.7%. During his time with the Celtics and Bulls, Hunter was frequently assigned to the G League.
This season, while playing for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets’ G League affiliate, Hunter appeared in 25 games, averaging 29.8 minutes per game. He led the team with 19.2 points, along with 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Selected 28th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Hunter believes he has improved significantly since his rookie season, and the Rockets’ system is aiding his development. According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets have officially signed Hunter to a two-way contract, a move that was later confirmed by the team.
Hunter was originally drafted by the Celtics in 2015 and has played for both the Celtics and the Bulls over the past two seasons, appearing in 39 NBA games. He has also spent time in the G League, shooting 43.2% from the field and 36.9% from three-point range, averaging 10 attempts from beyond the arc and hitting 3 of them per game, the highest on his team.