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Houston Rockets
Sep 12, 2025 8:22 AM EDT
The Houston Rockets had a strong 2025 offseason, as they finally got a superstar to build around. Kevin Durant is now on the roster as the biggest name, who could propel them further up the Western Conference standings.
After a successful 2024-25 season that had them finish as the second seed in the loaded West, the Rockets have doubled down. Durant is their new superstar scorer, who will fit right in with Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Fred VanVleet, and the rest of the Rockets roster under head coach Ime Udoka.
Kevin Durant hugging with Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka. They are now both on the Rockets.
Feb 12, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) hugs Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka after a game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images — Source: : Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Durant is well-known for being a natural fit for any team. He is the prime example of a plug-and-play star, as he can naturally integrate himself into any system. He can be an on-ball scorer, but he can also move off the ball to take catch-and-shoot jumpers.
With Udoka as his new coach, Durant has a fantastic tactician. They have previous experience working together. The head coach and player duo were on the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach and player, respectively. Udoka is excited about this re-ignited partnership in Houston.
Udoka Knows Durant Is A Good Fit In Houston
The Rockets were a fantastic team during the 2024-25 season. They were impressive because most people expected the Denver Nuggets or the Los Angeles Lakers to be the second seed behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Udoka’s Rockets team went from 11th in the 2023-24 season to 2nd in the next campaign. That is an impressive leap for such a young team, but they made sure that it won’t be a fluke. Trading Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks for Durant is a show of intent from the Rockets’ front office.
They want to support Udoka and his young core to be a title contender. Any team that has Durant on it could compete for a championship, unless that team is the Phoenix Suns. For Udoka, he is glad to have a superstar for the system.
“He’s a guy who doesn’t want to just lean on him. He wants to be included in the group, and people not to take a backseat to him. That’s his message to a lot of the young guys,” Udoka said in a recent media scrum.
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“The things that he does on the court, offensively, are seamless. You can fit him into any system. You’ve seen that wherever he’s gone, even in the past few years.”
“The efficiency, the numbers at an older age, he’s still doing that at a very high level. So, he’ll fit in seamlessly with our guys.”
The Rockets Have A Bright 2025-26 Campaign Ahead
For the Rockets, the 2025-26 season is the biggest opportunity to win a title since the 2018 Playoffs when they reached the Western Conference Finals. They were beaten by the Golden State Warriors back then, a team that featured Durant.
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Now, Durant is back in Texas, the state where he played college basketball for a year. He wants to win another title and stamp his legacy beyond his wins for Golden State.
With the Rockets, he has a fantastic team around him, including an All-Star big man in Sengun, a rising star like Thompson, and an ever-reliable veteran guard in VanVleet. This is the right team for Durant, and his decision to be traded to Houston could pay off well.
About the author
NBA & WNBA Writer, Athlon Sports
Cholo is a lifelong basketball fan who aims to highlight sport through in-depth storytelling around the NBA and WNBA. He has written hundreds of stories since joining Athlon Sports in 2024.