The 2025-26 NBA Season Overview
The 2025-26 NBA season is upon us, and all eyes are on the Houston Rockets following their intriguing offseason moves. After finishing the previous season with a strong record of 52-30 and being ousted in the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors, the Rockets made headlines by acquiring superstar Kevin Durant. This acquisition raises significant questions and expectations for the upcoming season, particularly surrounding Houston’s hopes for a championship.
Performance Metrics and Key Additions
In the last season, Houston’s performance was a mix of strong offensive and defensive metrics, ranking 12th in offensive rating (114.9) and 5th in defensive rating (110.3). This year, expectations will soar as Durant, a 14-time All-Star, joins the roster at age 37, marking his stint with his fifth NBA team. The Rockets parted ways with Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and Jock Landale to bring in the veteran star alongside new additions Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela.
Questions Surrounding Durant’s Impact
A pressing question emerges: did the Rockets make a wise decision in bringing Durant onto the team? By adding a player of Durant’s caliber—recognized for his scoring prowess and experience—the Rockets aim to address their previous shortcomings, particularly their struggle to find a reliable scoring option during playoff clutch moments. In his preseason debut, Durant showcased his enduring talent with an efficient 20-point performance, highlighting his potential to seamlessly integrate with teammates like Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard.
“Durant’s addition could provide an essential playmaking presence along with his scoring.”
Yet concerns linger about Durant’s health. Over the past five seasons, he has only played 70 or more games once, grappling with various injuries that have sidelined him at critical moments. Moreover, the Rockets recently encountered a significant setback with the loss of point guard Fred VanVleet for the season due to a torn ACL, jeopardizing the team’s plans to enhance their playmaking capabilities.
Strategic Decisions and Future Outlook
Coach Ime Udoka is using the remaining preseason games to assess different lineups and prepare for their challenging season opener against the reigning champions. However, the Rockets’ strategic decisions will affect how the younger players, particularly Thompson and Sheppard, adapt to their roles as they learn to navigate alongside a superstar.
With the front office having made substantial commitments to their core players, the Rockets are in for the long haul with this roster. The recent strategy shift towards a dual-timeline development approach aims to find a delicate balance between nurturing young talent and contending for a title. Questions loom about whether this strategy can keep pace with formidable teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, which have shown depth and versatility with their recent successes.
This situation is also crucial for the Rockets, as they look to address last season’s glaring spacing issues, where they ranked poorly in three-point shooting statistics. The acquisition of Durant, renowned as one of the greatest shooters in league history, is expected to alleviate some of these worries, allowing him to take advantage of weaker defenders while contributing to a more robust defense led by Udoka’s aggressive schemes.
Best-Case and Worst-Case Scenarios
Best-case scenario? The Rockets see Şengün evolve into a pivotal player who could transform their offensive dynamics, similar to Nikola Jokić’s role in Denver, while contributions from Durant and the younger players propel Houston to the NBA Finals.
Conversely, if Durant struggles to integrate into the team or misses significant playing time, the Rockets could face challenges replicating last season’s successes. This could lead to issues in offensive execution and necessitate roster adjustments mid-season. While Houston’s talent may still secure them a playoff spot, any early exit would likely catalyze a thorough reevaluation of their strategies.
Looking Ahead
As the Rockets eye the season opener on October 21 against Oklahoma City, and with an over/under win total set at 55.5, the team aims for at least a slight improvement on last year’s win total. Given that several playoff caliber teams have strengthened their rosters, achieving this target will be a formidable challenge. The presence of Durant could be key in navigating the competitive landscape of the Western Conference this year, establishing whether the Rockets can emerge as legitimate title contenders in a talented league.
