Kevin Durant explained what he views as the formula for modern NBA success and why he thinks the Rockets have pieces “of all of those attributes.”
.@BenDuBose asked @KDTrey5 if Houston currently has a championship-level roster:
“I never talk about championships on any team I’ve been on. You just put your head down and work.”
But, KD does see the #Rockets having key attributes that meet the modern NBA formula. Full answer: pic.twitter.com/n6EOPHcTNP
— The Rockets Wire (@TheRocketsWire) September 29, 2025
When asked if the 2025-26 Houston Rockets now have a championship-caliber roster, All-Star forward Kevin Durant said he doesn’t like to think of it in those terms.
“I never talk about championships on any team I’ve been on,” said Durant, who helped leverage his way to Houston via a July trade. “You just put your head down and work, every single day.”
In speaking to reporters for the first time since that trade, Durant quickly added that Houston has several “attributes” that he views as critical to modern NBA success.
During an exchange with Rockets Wire’s Ben DuBose, Durant said:
The formula the last few years in the league is to have size, and to have guys that can penetrate, create extra possessions for you, switch and guard multiple positions. Length, athleticism, discipline, and effort every single night, from a scheme perspective. That and camaraderie, continuity, all of that stuff matters. That’s what has been successful in the last couple years, from my observation.
I feel like we’ve got bits and pieces of all those attributes on our team now. It’s just all about how we cook it all up and come together, and form who we want to be… and our identity as we go forward.
That may take time. Who knows how long it’ll take, but actually putting in the work and trying to figure it out is the fun part. I’m looking forward to it.
Durant then went on to speak glowingly of head coach Ime Udoka, who puts together those schemes, along with co-stars Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.
Of Udoka, Durant said:
Ime has always been one of those guys that understood what I brought to the table and my mentality and my approach to the game. He always respected that and gave me the space to be me, so that was one of the first things I thought about.
Seeing the identity of this team the last few years and playing with length, having size, playing the transition, driving and kicking, switching on defense… I think all that stuff is tailor fit to my game. So, I wanted to play that style, too.
Regarding Thompson and Sengun, Durant said:
Unique skills sets, body types that I haven’t played with before. Amen being just a do-everything, 6-7, athletic freak of nature. I don’t think we’ve ever seen (in the NBA) the way he uses his athleticism. To be alongside that, I’m excited.
Then with Şengün, I’ve played with some bigs that are great at what they do, great role-playing bigs. They could guard in the post, could set great screens, they can finish over the rim, they can block shots. But I think Alpi could pretty much do all of that and also handle the ball like a guard out on the perimeter.
Durant’s complete interview, which took place at Monday’s media day to open training camp for the 2025-26 season, can be viewed below. It also features remarks about his contractual situation, with Durant making it clear that he plans on extending his deal with the Rockets into the future.
Last season with the Phoenix Suns, Durant earned his 15th career All-Star honors while averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He posted those numbers while shooting an extremely efficient 52.7% overall and 43.0% on 3-pointers, and that should be a major boost to a Houston team that — as Durant alluded to — was already elite on defense but in desperate need of efficient scoring on offense.
“In some areas we struggle, he addresses those,” Udoka said Monday.