“The coaching staff is pissed off, players are pissed off,” Kevin Durant says of the Rockets. “We want a better outcome, and it’s early, too. So for us to feel that way, I like that kind of energy.”
The Rockets have dropped their first two games of the season and the organization isn’t happy.
Kevin Durant likes it that way:
“Coaching staff is pissed off, the players are pissed off and it’s early too so for us to feel that way, I like that kind of energy” pic.twitter.com/P6wxwQ9vAJ
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) October 25, 2025
The 2025-26 NBA season hasn’t started according to plan for the new-look Houston Rockets, who are winless through two games.
But All-Star forward Kevin Durant says he’s pleased by the response to those setbacks.
“The coaching staff is pissed off, players are pissed off,” Durant said after Friday’s close loss to Detroit. “We want a better outcome, and it’s early, too. So for us to feel that way, I like that kind of energy.”
There are a few silver linings for the Rockets. One, of course, is the play of Durant.
Through two games with his new team, the future Hall of Famer is averaging 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 42.0 minutes while shooting 52.9% from the field, 42.9% on 3-pointers, and 87.5% from the free-throw line.
Another silver lining is that Houston’s losses have come by a combined five points to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons. Both made the 2025 NBA playoffs, and the Thunder are defending league champions.
In contrast, Houston’s next four opponents (the Brooklyn Nets, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Dallas Mavericks) are a combined 1-7 to begin the season.
Then again, the Rockets are 0-2, so nothing should be taken for granted. Tipoff of Monday’s game versus the Nets is at 7:00 p.m. Central from Houston’s Toyota Center, with the game televised regionally on Space City Home Network and nationally via NBA League Pass.
Houston finished last season (2024-25) with the second-best record in the Western Conference and the fourth-best mark in the league, and that was without Durant. So, especially early in the season, there is a very reasonable case to be made for the Rockets to turn things around as the schedule eases.