The Houston Rockets are one of the most interesting teams heading into the 2025-26 NBA season. They pulled off the Kevin Durant trade, which means they have a stacked roster with top-level talent, including the promising Amen Thompson.
The Western Conference is stacked with top-tier teams in the 2025-26 season. Defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder and perennial contenders Denver Nuggets are the favorites in the West. However, the Houston Rockets could be the dark horse that surprises everyone.
With Kevin Durant on the Rockets now after the blockbuster trade, Houston has a stacked roster. Durant is the go-to scorer they need alongside All-Star center Alperen Sengun. Defensively, they have everything sorted with Amen Thompson as their primary stopper.
Thompson himself is glad to have a teammate he knows to be an elite scorer. As the go-to stopper in his first two seasons, he already knew Durant was the real deal. Now, he is excited to play with the two-time Finals MVP as he also improves on his offensive game.
Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty ImagesThompson knows the Rockets will improve with Durant
The Rockets were already good during the 2024-25 season. Head coach Ime Udoka led his team to the second seed in the stacked Western Conference. However, the team was not satisfied with settling for that, especially when they were eliminated by the seventh-seeded Golden State Warriors.
The front office delivered by trading Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks away in a package for Durant. Green was impressive at times, but he was way too inconsistent, so getting a proven superstar was the right move. Green is pleased with the trade, as he has an opportunity to shine.
It is a popular trade within the locker room, as almost all of them are aware of what Durant can do. He has been on top of the NBA for almost two decades, cementing himself as one of the greatest-ever offensive players. With him joining the Rockets, they could become the best in the West. Thompson agrees with that sentiment, as he feels the team is much better than the previous year.
“It’s going to be fun playing with him. I’ve had to guard him. That’s like my matchup.
“You know I consider myself if not the best defender in the league, one of the best,” Thompson said on The Young Man And The Three.
“We’re double-teaming him, and I’m guarding him. He’s bigger than me, and he could pass, too. That’s the thing, like, KD can pass. I think every time we play against him, he gets like eight plus assists.”
“Other people gotta double too. So, just knowing the easy opportunities is going to make for the whole team. Just having a threat like that, even for me, like I’m excited, like he’s talking about it, thinking about it, I’m smiling just thinking of getting on the court for the first time with him.”
The Rockets have a very bright future with Thompson
Sengun was an All-Star in the 2024-25 season, but people feel Thompson is the player destined for superstardom. He was already an impressive player in his first two seasons, but he mainly operated as a defender and a transition threat.
With his focus on improving as a scorer, Thompson could elevate himself into stardom. With Durant as his mentor, he could develop and become a star. He is even in the running for Most Improved Player ahead of the 2025-26 season because of his potential.
He has all the physical tools to become a star, but he must also deliver on this potential. Thompson is a workhorse player, so he could be set for success in the long run. Winning more games and competing in the Playoffs could push him further and elevate Thompson into stardom, and the Rockets could become a title contender.