Houston’s rotation enters camp with more perimeter options, but the biggest minute questions still sit with the returning core. Kevin Durant remains the ceiling-raiser, Fred VanVleet is back after an injury-cost season, and Amen Thompson’s next offensive step could change the shape of the Rockets’ closing groups.
The Rockets finished 52-30 last season, fifth in the Western Conference, before another first-round exit. They have now been bounced in the opening round in consecutive years, putting the pressure on a roster built to stay above 50 wins and finally push deeper into May.
Bogdan Bogdanović, Marcus Smart and Bruce Thornton are the notable additions. Bogdanović gives Houston another proven floor-spacer, while Smart brings defensive muscle and guard depth. The front office also made a major commitment to Thompson before camp, signing the athletic wing to a five-year, $208 million rookie extension.
From the locker room
The Rockets have enough pieces to be good again. Whether they become great will depend on the health and growth surrounding Durant.
Durant’s ability to continue producing at an elite level is the headline variable. VanVleet’s return should restore organization to the offense, and Houston is also waiting to see how far Alperen Sengun, Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. can move the group forward. Smith, in particular, still has to prove his flashes can become a dependable nightly contribution.
Thompson is the internal breakout pick despite already having established himself as one of the league’s most disruptive on-ball defenders. His athleticism and work habits are well known, but his offensive package remains unfinished. A credible jumper or more reliable self-created scoring would make him a far more complete two-way player and give the coaching staff greater flexibility in high-leverage lineups.
Shooting development will be a preseason focus. Houston hired Chip Engelland, the veteran shooting coach with two championships from his San Antonio tenure, to work with Thompson and young guard Reed Sheppard. Sheppard is trying to earn a larger role, while Bogdanović’s arrival supplies an experienced three-point threat around Durant.
The Rockets’ identity on the glass is already established. Their 54.5% rebounding percentage last season led the NBA for a second straight year and stood as the best mark by any team in three decades of play-by-play tracking.
Houston lost some of that dominance after Steven Adams went down for the season in January, although it still ranked second in offensive rebound rate over the remainder of the year. Its second-most frequently used unit — Tari Eason with the four regular starters — recovered 58.9% of available rebounds, the strongest figure for a lineup with at least 200 minutes across 19 seasons of lineup data.
VanVleet’s return should improve the offense in several areas, but a 6-foot guard taking a larger share of the minutes could trim the club’s size advantage compared with bigger backcourt combinations. That is a tradeoff Houston will monitor as it settles its rotation.
The Western Conference leaves little room for a slow start. Houston’s path to June requires not only internal progress, but wins against a crowded group of contenders.
Next tip
Houston opens its marquee schedule on Oct. 23 against the Spurs, an early measuring-stick game against a team viewed among the title favorites.
- Oct. 23 vs. Spurs: An immediate Western Conference test and an early indication of Houston’s place among the contenders.
- Nov. 20 vs. Nuggets: This game closes a demanding 17-game run that includes two Denver meetings along with dates against the Spurs, Thunder, Celtics, Timberwolves, Heat and Pacers.
- Nov. 28 vs. 76ers: The schedule notes a Durant-LeBron James meeting, carrying the weight of a long shared history and potentially representing their last matchup on the same floor.
- Jan. 13 vs. Thunder: Durant returns to Oklahoma City, where his NBA career began, for another emotionally charged stop.
- March 25 vs. Pistons: Amen Thompson and his brother, Ausar Thompson, are set for another family matchup, with both clubs expected to be in the playoff picture by then.
