Houston Rockets Rank Top 10 in NBA Power Rankings

The Houston Rockets have made significant offseason moves to position themselves as contenders for the 2025-26 NBA season, potentially ranking among the league's top ten teams. Key transactions include acquiring Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, bolstering defense by adding Dorian Finney-Smith from the Los Angeles Lakers, and strengthening center depth by bringing back Clint Capela to replace Jock Landale.

In The Athletic's annual NBA Power Rankings, the Rockets are placed at No. 6, categorized as "In a good place" in tier two, just below the top five "Top Contenders" such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Denver Nuggets. Analyst Law Murray highlights the team's reliance on improved defense and the expectation that 2024 lottery pick Reed Sheppard will make a leap to provide needed shooting and ballhandling, noting concerns about Durant's age (37) and recent injury history.

The roster is built around a strong defensive foundation, emphasized by head coach Ime Udoka, and enhanced by Durant's scoring prowess. The young core, including Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun, is seen as a long-term foundation for contending in the competitive Western Conference, with Sheppard anticipated to see increased minutes. While major free agency moves appear complete, further trades by general manager Rafael Stone before the season starts remain a possibility.