As the countdown to another NBA season nears ignition, Houston’s trajectory looks steeper, sharper, and more dangerous than it’s been in years. Here are five storylines that will shape the 2025–26 campaign.
Culture
Ime Udoka was hired to stamp his identity on this franchise, and he’s done exactly that. After an 11-win improvement last season, the Rockets’ edge and intensity are unmistakable. Fifty-eight wins is not only possible, it’s precedent. Rudy Tomjanovich reached the same number in his third year, and that road ended with a championship parade. Can anyone say Coach of the Year?
History
Kevin Durant’s arrival wasn’t just a power play; it was a page-turner in NBA lore. Durant sits 1,721 points behind Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list and should pass both Wilt Chamberlain and Dirk Nowitzki on his way toward His Airness. Houston could become the stage where one of the greatest scorers in history climbs yet another rung.
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Revenge
“Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Ricardo Montalban said it as Khan, but it’s a sentiment that fits the Rockets perfectly. The seven-game heartbreak against Golden State still lingers, and it still fuels them. That defeat gave rise to a star in Amen Thompson, whose breakout accelerated the trade that sent Jalen Green to Phoenix and brought Durant to H-Town. Circle December 5 and January 5, when Green returns to Toyota Center. By then, Thompson may already be an All-Star, and Thanksgiving Eve’s rematch with the Warriors could boil over.
Health, Trust, Dealing?
Jabari Smith missed 25 games a year ago, and Fred VanVleet’s injury has already shelved $24 million of veteran stability. Can Reed Sheppard, who started just three games last season, anchor the backcourt in his sophomore campaign? Will Udoka trust him through the turbulence? Don’t rule out a February 5 trade deadline addition, maybe not a “Jimmy Butler” name, but this front office has shown it can strike when opportunity flickers.
Bench
No championship team survives without depth. Houston’s second unit may lack the pop of a Cam Thomas or Payton Pritchard, but Tari Eason, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Josh Okogie embody Udoka’s brand of hard-nosed reliability. If they can steady the margins, the Rockets’ stars can do the rest.
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