Kevin Durant is a perennial All-Star and among the NBA’s greatest scorers of all-time, but he’s not an especially ball-dominant one.
With shooting splits this decade exceeding 53% overall, 41% on 3-pointers, and 88% on free throws, the 36-year-old forward provides significant off-ball graviry.
Advertisement
So, for the 2025-26 Houston Rockets, the hope is that Durant won’t impede the development of younger players. In fact, he might assist in that mission.
The Houston Chronicle’s Danielle Lerner writes:
The Rockets are hoping that Durant’s presence will streamline the offense and facilitate the growth of their younger players, including those due for larger roles this season like Jabari Smith Jr. and Reed Sheppard.
It has long been speculated that Durant’s presence might provide cleaner creation opportunities for Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson. But even with Durant on the floor, those two emerging stars have shown enough that they are still likely to command considerable respect from opposing defenses.
It might be that young players lower in the perceived pecking order — perhaps with the opposing defense stashing its worst or second-worst defender on them — end up seeing the most benefit, relative to last season.
Advertisement
Most notably, from an efficiency perspective, that might potentially boost the stock of Smith, Sheppard, and Tari Eason once the 2025-26 season begins in October.
More: 2025-26 NBA Most Improved Player: Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. draws early prediction
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets hoping for Kevin Durant’s presence to aid prospect development