The NBA is back, and on ring
night, as confetti is prepared and banners await their ascension,
the visiting Houston Rockets are walking into Paycom Center not
merely as spectators watching the Oklahoma City Thunder raise
their championship banner – but as worthy challengers.
This is no longer a young team
simply hoping to develop. The Rockets are here with purpose, power,
and one of the greatest scorers of all time leading the charge:
Kevin Durant.
When Durant landed in Houston
after that stunning trade this summer, it shifted the entire
balance of the Western Conference. The message was clear: the
Rockets are done waiting for their future. They want to win now,
and their time is now.
For years, the Rockets have been
stockpiling talent, banking on potential, and emphasizing growth.
But after back-to-back seasons of competitiveness under Ime Udoka,
the organization decided to accelerate. Durant’s arrival changes
everything – from the way Houston runs its offense to the
expectations that now hang over the franchise.
Even without Fred VanVleet, who
is sidelined with an injury, Houston remains loaded. Instead of
patching the gap with another veteran guard, Udoka is doubling down
on his young core – placing immense responsibility on Amen Thompson
and Alperen Sengun.
The Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun leap
Thompson, now entering his
second season, will assume full-time point guard duties. It’s a
massive leap, but one Udoka and the front office have prepared him
for. His athleticism, defensive instincts, and improving court
vision make him the natural conductor of this evolving Rockets
offense.
If Thompson is the engine,
Alperen Sengun is the hub.
Fresh off a spectacular
EuroBasket run where he dominated as Turkey’s focal point, Sengun
looks ready to translate that same control to the NBA stage. His
ability to read defenses, pass from both the low and high post, and
score efficiently makes him the centerpiece of Udoka’s halfcourt
schemes.
Much like Nikola Jokic in
Denver, everything flows through him. The Rockets are embracing a
more fluid, motion-based offense that allows Şengün to survey the
floor, dictate movement, and create opportunities for Thompson,
Durant, and Jabari Smith Jr.
In essence, Sengun has gone from
being an intriguing young big to becoming Houston’s offensive
cornerstone.
And when paired with Durant –
arguably the most adaptable superstar in basketball – the synergy
could be special. Durant can play off-ball, spot up from midrange,
or stretch defenses beyond the arc, allowing Sengun to orchestrate
from the elbow area. When defenses collapse on Sengun, Durant
punishes them. And if they crowd Durant, Sengun goes to work
inside. It’s a simple offense but one that is highly efficient and
sustainable
Durant’s impact: leadership and legacy
For Durant, Houston represents
one more opportunity to define his legacy on his own
terms.
He’s joined superteams before,
carried heavy expectations before, and heard the narratives that
follow him. At 37, Durant is still elite, still driven, and now in
a situation where his influence extends beyond scoring.
In Houston’s locker room, he’s
the standard. His work ethic and professionalism have already
rubbed off on the young core. Players like Thompson and Smith Jr.
speak openly about the lessons they’re learning from him – how to
prepare, how to maintain focus, how to pick your spots on the
floor. This team is talented, but Durant’s presence gives them
identity.
One of the biggest lineups ever assembled, and Reed
Sheppard’s moment
What’s also fascinating about
this Rockets team is how physically imposing they’ve become. Udoka
hinted during media day that Houston might deploy “one of the
biggest lineups in league history.”
He wasn’t
exaggerating.
Houston has eight players with
wingspans over seven feet, including Durant, Smith Jr., Sengun,
Thompson, Steven Adams, Tari Eason, Tari Eason, and Josh
Okogie.
Against the Thunder, the Rockets
are expected to start Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith
Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Steven Adams – a massive group that blends
size, versatility, and rim protection.
This lineup has the potential to
suffocate teams defensively while overwhelming them on the boards.
Amen can switch across multiple positions, Sengun and Adams anchor
the paint, Smith Jr.’s improved awareness allows Houston to
maintain spacing even with a traditional center on the floor, and
Durant is a sneaky good weakside rim protector.
With VanVleet out, rookie guard
Reed Sheppard is set to play a more significant role than expected.
Known for his high IQ and fearless shooting, Sheppard could provide
the spacing and composure Houston needs from the second unit. In a
team filled with stars and length, Sheppard’s ability to shoot,
defend, and make quick reads could make him the quiet X-factor
early in the season.
– – –
All eyes will be on Oklahoma
City on opening night. The Thunder will celebrate their first
championship in franchise history. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the
squad will receive their championship rings, sending the crowd in
euphoria.
But on the other side, the
Rockets are coming to send a message.
They’re not intimidated by the
defending champions – they’re motivated by them. Houston’s
front office watched OKC’s rise closely: a young, homegrown team
built around patience, culture, and development. Now, the Rockets
believe they can write their own version of that story, except this
time, with the added edge of experience and star power.
If there’s ever a statement game
to open a season, this is it.
Durant, returning to Oklahoma
City where his career began, faces his former team in the most
poetic of circumstances – ring night for the franchise he once led,
but with him now wearing Rockets red. It’s drama, nostalgia, and
rivalry all wrapped into one.
For Houston, it’s not just about
spoiling a ceremony. It’s about announcing themselves as legitimate
title contenders. They’ve gone all-in on the belief that their
young core is ready and that Durant can still be the centerpiece of
a championship run. For Ime Udoka, the challenge will be blending
experience and youth, ego and development, discipline and
creativity.
If it all clicks, Houston could
find itself right in the thick of the title race. For a franchise
that has waited years for relevance, that has rebuilt patiently and
endured countless growing pains, this season is the start of
something new.
And it begins under the bright
lights in Oklahoma City, where the Rockets will take the floor not
as dreamers, but as believers.
