At 4-0, the Houston Rockets finished with a perfect record in 2025-26 preseason play. Among the NBA’s 30 teams, the only other unbeaten squads are the Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs.
Houston’s defense was underwhelming at times, but that’s likely of little concern in games where the result wasn’t meaningful. The Rockets were a top-five defense in the 2024-25 regular season, and Ime Udoka remains extremely well regarded as a head coach for his defensive schemes.
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What was most noteworthy, especially for a team that once struggled to score in halfcourt situations, is how elite the offense was.
This preseason, the Rockets led the NBA with a 123.2 offensive rating and an average total of 130.8 points per game. Their collective true-shooting (TS) percentage of 62.0% ranked third in the league, up from 55.3% and No. 24 overall last season.
Even if we adjust for preseason intensity, or a lack thereof, the 2024-25 Rockets finished with a 56.7% TS and 112.9 offensive rating in last season’s exhibitions. So, this year’s numbers represent a significant bump, no matter the measuring stick.
Among individuals who averaged at least 15 minutes per game, key statistics included:
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Jabari Smith Jr. (three games, +16.5 net rating): 17.7 points, 4.7 rebounds in 23.3 minutes; 48.6% FG, 47.4% on 3-pointers, 90.9% on free throws, 66.5% TS
Kevin Durant (two games, +15.7 net rating): 17.5 points, 3.0 rebounds in 25.7 minutes; 56.5% FG, 20.0% on 3s, 88.9% on FTs, 64.9% TS
Amen Thompson (three games, +8.4 net rating): 17.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.7 turnovers, 1.3 steals in 25.2 minutes; 56.3% FG, 66.7% on 3s, 91.7% on FTs, 68.4% TS
Reed Sheppard (four games, +4.8 net rating): 15.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.8 turnovers, 1.5 steals, 1.5 blocks in 23.1 minutes; 51.2% FG, 40.7% on 3s, 83.3% on FTs, 65.7% TS
Alperen Sengun (three games, +21.7 net rating): 13.3 points, 8.7 assists, 7.3 rebounds, 2.7 turnovers, 2.0 steals in 24.1 minutes; 52.0% FG, 50.0% on 3s, 100% on FTs, 66.1% TS
Josh Okogie (four games, -4.1 net rating): 13.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 1.0 steals in 20.4 minutes; 55.6% FG, 40.0% on 3s, 81.8% on FTs, 70.9% TS
Tari Eason (three games, +0.7 net rating): 12.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists in 19.4 minutes; 53.3% FG, 11.1% on 3s, 71.4% on FTs, 57.4% TS
JD Davison (four games, +13.3 net rating): 10.5 points, 3.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds in 21.0 minutes; 48.4% FG, 47.1% on 3s, 57.1% on FTs, 61.6% TS
Aaron Holiday (four games, +6.4 net rating): 10.5 points, 3.3 assists, 2.8 turnovers in 21.6 minutes; 35.9% FG, 26.1% on 3s, 100% on FTs, 49.4% TS
Clint Capela (three games, -7.2 net rating): 7.3 points, 6.0 rebounds in 18.7 minutes; 62.5% FG, 50.0% on FTs, 61.9% TS
Jeff Green (four games, +17.0 net rating): 7.0 points, 4.5 rebounds in 17.9 minutes; 26.9% FG, 23.5% on 3s, 100% on FTs, 46.1% TS
Steven Adams (two games, +21.5 net rating): 5.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists in 20.2 minutes; 62.5% FG, 57.1% TS
This data and more is available via NBA.com.
The big question, of course, is how much of that offensive improvement is sustainable. Certainly, in the regular season, opposing defenses will be much more dialed in and utilizing better players on a more frequent basis.
Then again, Durant is a newcomer and continues to play at an All-Star level, and young players such as Sengun, Smith, Thompson, and Sheppard are all at a point in their careers where growth between seasons is very plausible. So, it’s entirely possible that some of these improvements — relative to last season’s underwhelming numbers on offense — could be the real deal, based on a superior roster.
We’ll find out starting Tuesday, which is when the Rockets will open up their 2025-26 regular season at Oklahoma City. Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. Central for what will also be 2025 championship ring night for the Thunder, with the game televised to a national audience on NBC.
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This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: By the numbers: Rockets’ perfect preseason fueled by elite offense