Purdue basketball had a void entering last season.
Oscar Cluff solved it and left a mark in his one season as a Boilermaker.
Now the Australian center tries to see how his game translates to the NBA. The Rockets are giving Cluff his shot, putting him on their summer league roster, reported by ESPN’s Olgun Uluc. He’ll join Houston when its summer league schedule begins in Las Vegas next month. The summer league runs from July 9-19.
Here’s a look at Cluff’s Purdue career and how he may fit with the Rockets.
Oscar Cluff with Purdue basketball
The Boilermakers utilized a smaller lineup in 2024-25 to generate a better offense.
It left Purdue vulnerable at the rim defensively and also put the Boilers at a rebounding disadvantage. Cluff was brought in last season to help solve both, while also being a capable offensive threat.
The former junior college, Washington State and South Dakota State product performed admirably over 39 games for a 30-9 Elite Eight team, averaging 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 68.3%.
Cluff recorded nine double-doubles and was perhaps the main catalyst to Purdue winning the Big Ten Tournament, averaging 17.3 points and 9.5 rebounds over four games to earn all-tournament team recognition.
What Oscar Cluff brings to the Houston Rockets
The carryover skill is rebounding. Cluff averaged 7.8 rebounds per game over three seasons of Division I basketball. His offensive game was reliant on having Braden Smith as a point guard last season, but Cluff feasted on scoring off high percentage shots.
He was a capable rim protector, but on-ball defense will need improvement as a pro.
His skills will be team dependent, so it’s a matter of fit.
Once Cluff got into better playing shape, allowing for longer stretches in games, his productivity soared.
Some of his best games came against the better teams Purdue faced, including a double-double in the Elite Eight against Arizona, 21 points in the a Big Ten Tournament title game win over eventual national champion Michigan and a 12-point, 14-rebound performance, including the game winner in an overtime win at Nebraska.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: How Purdue’s Oscar Cluff could fit in the NBA, Houston Rockets
Reporting by Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Indianapolis Star
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By Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier | USA TODAY Network
