Three New Strengths the Rockets Bring Into This Season
The Houston Rockets made significant roster upgrades this offseason, giving the team new advantages it lacked a year ago—and putting them in a much stronger position heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
After a season of clear progress that ended in a first-round playoff exit, the Rockets used the summer to make meaningful changes. Known previously for being cautious about adding veteran talent, Houston finally shifted gears. Instead of holding tight to only their young core, the front office took a calculated risk—and it paid off.
Now, even with veteran guard Fred VanVleet sidelined for the season with a torn ACL, the Rockets look like real contenders. Here’s a look at three key strengths they now possess that they didn’t have last year:
Improved Perimeter Shooting
One of the Rockets’ biggest weaknesses last season was outside shooting—but that’s changed. Drafting sharpshooter Reed Sheppard with the No. 3 overall pick brought immediate upside. While Sheppard didn’t see much action in his rookie year, he’s expected to take on a bigger role now, especially with VanVleet out. At Kentucky, Sheppard hit an eye-popping 52.1% from beyond the arc, and if he brings even a portion of that to the pros, he’ll make a huge impact.
But Sheppard isn’t the only weapon from deep. The Rockets’ blockbuster addition of Kevin Durant—who shot 43% from three last season—brings elite scoring from all areas of the court. Add in Dorian Finney-Smith, a proven 3-and-D specialist, and Houston suddenly has multiple reliable threats from deep.
Combined with inside-focused players like Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr., this new shooting presence adds crucial balance and versatility to their offense.
A True Go-To Scorer: Kevin Durant
Durant’s arrival solves a problem the Rockets struggled with last year: having a dependable, late-game scorer. Last season, Jalen Green was the primary option, but his inconsistency showed in the playoffs, where he was effectively neutralized—averaging just 13.3 points on under 38% shooting.
Durant changes that completely. One of the greatest scorers in NBA history, he’s still producing at a high level even at 37, averaging 26.6 points per game last season on ultra-efficient 53/43/84 shooting splits. He’ll be the Rockets’ offensive anchor in crunch time and a stabilizing force for the young roster.
Balanced Blend of Youth and Experience
In addition to Durant and Finney-Smith, Houston added other veterans like Clint Capela and Josh Okogie. With this influx of experience, the team now features a strong blend of seasoned leadership and emerging talent.
Young stars like Şengün, Thompson, Smith, Sheppard, and Tari Eason are still the foundation of the Rockets’ future—but now they have veteran mentors beside them to help accelerate growth and maintain focus during the highs and lows of the season.
This balance not only boosts their regular-season outlook but also makes them better equipped for playoff success.
With these three major improvements—elite shooting, a proven scorer in Durant, and a healthy mix of youth and veterans—the Rockets have taken a big step toward legitimate championship contention. If everything clicks, Houston might just find itself in the hunt for an NBA title.
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