There was recruiting involved, to be sure, and James Ennis appreciated that, especially on the first weekend of free agency. But the Rockets’ meeting with him went well beyond selling him on joining them.

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni went over how he would be used, how he would fit. He went into great detail about the Rockets’ offensive and defensive philosophies. General manager Daryl Morey and vice president Gersson Rosas walked through how they believed he would grow as a player in the Rockets’ system.

When they were through, Ennis was sold, not just on joining the Rockets, and would agree to a two-year, $3.4 million deal on Wednesday to do that. He also had become more confident than ever in what he could bring.

“I’m a great player,” Ennis said Thursday before heading to Houston for his physical and to sign his contract. “I have to show it. I have to show it. That’s what I’m going to do this year. I’m going to show how good I am.”

The Rockets have greatness. They won’t look for Ennis, 28, to be that. But they also have shown the value of a top-flight 3-and-D wing, with Trevor Ariza so mastering the job that he landed a one-year, $15 million contract the night before Ennis began the conversations that led him to replacing Ariza.

Interest caught his attention

Ennis played for four teams in four NBA seasons, usually coming off the bench, always considered very much a role player. But when the Rockets showed him such immediate interest, going beyond the obligatory phone calls that teams annually make to line up their fallback options to a full, detailed meeting in Los Angeles, his head was turned.

“It means a lot,” Ennis said of the Rockets’ pursuit. “I came from Long Beach State, a mid-major. I was not a first-round pick. I was a second-round pick coming at 50 (by the Atlanta Hawks). So for a good team like that, that’s always a contender to actually want someone like me, I’m really appreciative. I’m very thankful. God works in mysterious ways and this is God working.”

Ennis has been a journeyman, if four seasons can be enough to define anyone. His best stretch came with the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2016-17 season. He said he has benefited from the experiences.

“The main thing I learned is you have … new people coming in every year,” Ennis said. “I have to just do what I know I can do and keep doing the work and stay positive.

“Defense, No. 1. I’m definitely a defensively player. I love defense. I love hustling. I run the floor. I shoot the ball. I can finish. I’m just trying to put all that together consistently. That’s my biggest talk-about, being consistent. Putting all that together every night, that’s my goal. That’s what I’m going to achieve this year. It’s on.”

The Rockets targeted the 6-7 Ennis in a large measure for that defensive ability, with associate head coach Jeff Bzdelik, who runs the Rockets’ defense, having spent the 2016-17 season with Ennis in Memphis.

Ennis expects to pick up the demands of the Rockets’ defense quickly because of his time with Bzdelik, but he especially liked the details that make it work.

“I’m going to get it right away because I played in a system he was running,” Ennis said. “I love how physical they are. I definitely know how they talk and rotate. It’s going to be fun.”

That all might help him fit in quickly, but the stakes are high. Even if the Rockets succeed in landing Carmelo Anthony, Ennis could be in line for a significant role in filling the defensive void left by the departures of Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute.

Both were more accomplished when they joined to the Rockets, but the numbers in their first four seasons were similar to Ennis’, with Ennis a better 3-point shooter than Ariza was at that stage of his career and a much better range shooter than Mbah a Moute.

‘I can’t wait’

The increased use of 3-point shooting since Ariza and Mbah a Moute developed their touch from deep makes Ennis’ 3-point shooting more important than it was for his predecessors with the Rockets. But Mbah a Moute made 36.4 percent of his 3s last season and Ariza 36.8 percent. Ennis has made 35.9 percent in his career and should benefit from playing in D’Antoni’s offense with James Harden and Chris Paul creating open looks.

“That’s big expectations,” Ennis said of succeeding Ariza and Mbah a Moute. “They’re really good players. Trevor Ariza, I grew up watching him, love his game. When he was younger, like my age, there were similar things that I do that he did. Mbah a Moute is a similar good defensive player.

“I just feel it’s the right place for me just because they are a top-five team. I definitely want to win. I definitely love competing at a high level. How they play, up-and-down, shoot 3s, defense, that’s the main thing for me. I’m coming there to really help on the defensive end, because that’s the type of player I am. I give it 100 every time I step on the floor. I’m ready for this opportunity. I can’t wait.”

jonathan.feigen@chron.com

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