Joe Johnson, Bobby Brown among former Rockets participating in The Basketball Tournament

Before the NBA returns at the end of July, The Basketball Tournament tips off its seventh annual edition from July 4-14. Some Rockets fans may recognize some of the familiar faces.

Last year’s tournament featured 64 teams playing games all over the country, but with the pandemic restricting travel, only 24 teams are participating this year and congregating in Columbus, Ohio.

Last year, Carmen’s Crew, a team compiled of mostly Ohio State basketball alumni won their first championship, defeating four-time defending champion Overseas Elite in the semifinals and the Golden Eagles, Marquette’s alumni team in the championship.

Former Rockets Bobby Brown (2016-18) and Joe Johnson (2018) will look to avenge Overseas Elite’s loss in last year’s semifinals and look to win the team their fifth title in seven years.

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Bobby Brown’s former teammate Markel Brown (2018) will also suit up in the TBT, representing his alma mater Oklahoma State’s alumni team, the Stillwater Stars.

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Brown currently plays for the Oklahoma City Blue in the G-League.

Courtney Fortson, who suited up six times for the Rockets in 2012, will also make an appearance in the 2020 TBT for Armored Athlete.

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The Money Team features two former Rockets: Andrew Goudelock (2016) and 2014 second-round draft pick Nick Johnson, who played just one season for the Rockets after being traded to the Denver Nuggets in the Ty Lawson trade.

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The Basketball Tournament should satisfy some of our basketball cravings and hold us over until the NBA begins. And, we’ll get to see some former Rockets in the mix. This should be the best summer of basketball ever!