By Matija Šerić
Last season, the Rockets had a phenomenal regular season. With a 52-30 record, they secured second place in the Western Conference. However, problems arose in the playoffs. In the first round, they narrowly lost the series 4-3 to the Warriors. The matchup between the Rockets and Warriors was one of the best playoff series and strongly resembled the golden 1990s in terms of intensity and quality on both offense and defense. Houston ultimately fell short primarily because they lacked a superstar to lead the team—a true sharpshooting superstar.
Durant Could Mentor Young Rockets
Although the Rockets featured young talents like Jalen Green, Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, Tari Eason, and Jabari Smith Jr., they did not have an older leader-mentor to take responsibility in the most critical moments. In the end, this is why the Rockets were eliminated so quickly. Strong defense and a high pace, without an undisputed leader, clearly weren’t enough. While Fred VanVleet is an excellent point guard, he is not a team leader.
Had they had a superstar shooter like KD by their side, the Rockets could have gone much further in the playoffs. Durant is a phenomenal shooter, but above all, he is a good person who can provide invaluable support to teammates—not only on the court but also in the locker room and off the court, teaching them how to become better people and basketball players. In Houston, Durant will serve as both a player and mentor to younger talents such as Şengün, Jabari Smith Jr., Thompson, Eason, Reed Sheppard, and JD Davison. Durant remains one of the best basketball players in the world. According to a recent ESPN ranking, he is considered the 9th best NBA player.
Durant’s Formula for Success
During a press conference in Houston on September 29, reporters asked KD what makes a team a legitimate championship contender and whether the Rockets fit that profile. He responded:
“I never talk about titles on any team I’ve been on. You just put your head down and work every day. The formula, as I’ve felt over the last few years in the league, is having height. Having players who can break down defenses, players who can create extra possessions for you, players who can switch and guard multiple positions, length, athleticism, discipline, effort every night within the system, and cohesion and continuity… All of that matters. Those are the things that have usually been successful in recent years, in my opinion.”
Durant further explained how the current Rockets roster fits his formula:
“I feel that our team now has pieces of all those qualities. It all comes down to how we connect them, shape what we want to be, and define our identity as we progress. That can take time—who knows how long. But investing effort and finding the right path is what’s truly enjoyable.”
In his assessment, the superstar provided a more insightful analysis than NBA experts at NBC or ESPN.
Recent press conference
A Supportive Environment
Although the Rockets parted ways with excellent players Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, their absence can be offset. Over the summer, Houston signed strong players like Clint Capela, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Josh Okogie. The roster is deep at every position, which could fit well with Durant’s formula for success. Coach Ime Udoka was an assistant coach with the Nets in the 2020-21 season, when Durant was also on the team. This was one of the main factors why KD chose the Rockets as his next destination. Additionally, assistant coach Royal Ivey is a friend of Durant’s and has served as an assistant in his previous teams. Udoka and Ivey provide assurance that Durant should feel very comfortable in Houston.
Success on the Horizon
All signs point to Durant fitting perfectly into Houston, where he could even finish his career in a few years. KD is expected to help the Rockets secure a high seed (1st–4th place) in the regular season and gain home-court advantage in the playoffs. Since he is 37 years old, it will be crucial for the coaching staff to adjust his training and recovery routines to his age to keep him healthy throughout the season, especially in the playoffs. Of course, we have seen players like LeBron James and Chris Paul continue playing at a high level close to or past 40.
Houston will need a healthy KD in the playoffs, which is ultimately the most important factor. Staying healthy, fit, and composed will be key for the superstar and his team. By April and May next year, he should be in peak form to give the Rockets the best chance to reach the NBA Finals in June. That is still a distant goal.
If injuries spare him, the Slim Reaper should have a realistic chance to win his third NBA ring. He would certainly love that, finally putting to rest the narrative that he joined the Warriors only to win a title alongside Stephen Curry. KD can win the NBA again, but whether he will succeed will also depend on other Western Conference teams, including the defending champions Thunder, as well as the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Lakers, Clippers, Spurs, and Warriors. In any case, Durant and the Rockets face a promising future. While the risk of age cannot be ignored, the quality KD brings to Houston is today an extraordinary asset in the NBA.
References:
https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/3202/kevin-durant
https://www.nba.com/news/kevin-durant-joins-rockets-7-team-trade
https://sports.yahoo.com/article/nba-insider-believes-houston-rockets-175237163.html
https://www.espn.com/nba/team/roster/_/name/hou/houston-rockets
https://basketnews.com/news-231704-kevin-durant-explained-how-his-rockets-trade-unfolded.html
https://www.nba.com/news/offseason-power-rankings-west-2025
https://athlonsports.com/nba/houston-rockets/kevin-durants-last-stand
