Kevin Durant joins Amen Thompson and the Rockets as Houston looks to ascend to contender status in the West after last year’s first-round exit. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
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2024-25 Record: 52-30 (2nd in West, lost in First Round)
The past two seasons have seen the Houston Rockets live up to their team moniker as they have made a meteoric rise – going from a 14th place finish at 22-60 in 2022-23 to an 11th place finish at 41-41 in 2023-24 and all the way to a 2nd place finish at 52-30 last season.
However, that regular season success did not translate to the playoffs as the Rockets were upset in the first round by the 7th-seeded Warriors in seven games, prompting some significant changes in the summer as they look to continue their ascent into title contention.
Offseason
- Re-signing: Steven Adams (extension), Aaron Holiday, Jeff Green, Jabari Smith Jr. (extension), Jae’Sean Tate, Fred VanVleet
- Additions: Clint Capela (trade), Kevin Durant (trade), Dorian Finney-Smith (free agent), Josh Okogie (free agent)
- Draft: N/A
- Departures: Dillon Brooks (trade), N’Faly Dante (free agent), Jalen Green (trade), Jock Landale (waived), Cam Whitmore (trade)
- Unsigned Free Agents: N/A
> Complete Roster
The Rockets were the centerpiece of the NBA’s first-ever seven-team trade as Houston acquired Kevin Durant from Phoenix and Clint Capela from Atlanta while sending Dillon Books, Jalen Green and future draft picks to Phoenix.
In Durant, the Rockets get a certified bucket – a four-time scoring champion, the eighth leading scorer in NBA history, a 15-time All-Star, a two-time champion, two-time Finals MVP and former league MVP.
Houston added a talent of Durant’s caliber while still maintaining most of its young core – centered around Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard. The Rockets also retained veterans like Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams while adding Capela and Dorian Finney-Smith to bolster its depth.
You know about his All-Defensive chops, but Amen Thompson also rocked the rim with regularity last season.
X-factor
Amen Thompson. When watching a Rockets game, he leaps off the screen. Well, not literally, but if there was any athlete capable of such a feat it would be Thompson, who possesses a level of explosive athleticism that few – if any – players in the league can match.
Standing 6-7, the ultra-athletic wing has the speed and quickness to lock down guards and the strength, length and power to contend with bigs and protect the paint. He was the only player in the NBA to average at least 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals last season, as he earned his first All-Defensive First Team honor. It surely won’t be his last.
From lockdown defense to chasedown blocks, one-man fast breaks and fearless drives to the basket, the Amen Thompson variety show is a must-watch.
> Watch Amen Thompson on NBA League Pass
One key question
Is Kevin Durant the right fit to lift the Rockets to championship contender status?
After building their young core through the draft, the Rockets made their first key moves heading into the 2023-24 season – hiring Ime Udoka as head coach and adding a pair of veterans in Brooks and VanVleet to complement and guide the young talent. The Rockets made a leap, but stalled out in the playoffs this past season.
Now, ahead of the 2025-26 season, the Rockets have made an all-in move – acquiring Durant as the final piece to elevate them to the ranks of title contenders. Durant will be 37 by the time he tips off his 18th NBA season, but has shown no signs of slowing down in recent years. His game has aged beautifully as he remains one of the league’s premier players, ranking in the top six in scoring in each of his past two seasons.
After stops in Brooklyn and Phoenix following his two title runs in Golden State, can Houston be the place where Durant returns to the championship stage, leading a young Rockets squad to their first Finals appearance in over three decades?
Fantasy Outlook from RotoWire
The team at RotoWire broke down the top fantasy options for each team in the West. Here’s how they broke down some of the best options from the Rockets:
“To avoid another early playoff exit in 2025-26, the Rockets decided to swing for the fences, and they managed to knock it out of the park after acquiring Durant. Adding the star forward should drastically improve an offense that ranked 14th in scoring in 2024-25 with 114.3 points per game. In a clear sign of the team’s contending aspirations, they rounded out the roster with proven veterans such as Clint Capela and Dorian Finney-Smith, both on multi-year deals, and Josh Okogie on a one-season pact. Without a doubt, the Rockets look like the team to beat in the division, but also appear to be the biggest threat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the West.”
Key dates
- Preseason Opener: Oct. 6 vs. Hawks (8 ET, League Pass)
- Regular Season Opener: Oct. 21 at Thunder (7:30 ET, NBC & Peacock)
- Home Opener: Oct. 24 vs. Pistons (8 ET, League Pass)
- NBA Emirates Cup West Group C Play: Nov. 7 at Spurs (7:30 ET, Prime), Nov. 14 vs. Blazers (8 ET, League Pass), Nov. 21 vs. Nuggets (9:30 ET, Prime), Nov. 26 at Warriors (10 ET, ESPN)
- NBA Christmas Day: Dec. 25 at Lakers (8 ET, ABC & ESPN)
- Rivals Week: Jan. 20 vs. Spurs (8 ET, NBC & Peacock), Jan. 23 at Pistons (7 ET, Prime)
What they’re saying
David Aldridge, The Athletic: “I’m not wholly sold this is going to be all rainbows and unicorns. Durant is still a great scorer, but like all great scorers, he needs the ball. So, too, do Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson and Smith. Houston’s spent most of the last four years getting the ball to move better. Is isoing KD at the elbow the best way for this team to take the next step? But, I understand; the Rockets’ offense crashed and burned against the Warriors in the playoffs. This is a gamble a championship-hunting organization takes. Getting DFS from the Lakers was huge. Respect to GM Rafael Stone and Houston’s front office for not bowing at the OKC altar and shooting their shot.” (Read More)