One Category That Kevin Durant Is Almost Guaranteed to Be Better at Next Season

Kevin Durant is renowned as one of the NBA's greatest scorers throughout his Hall of Fame career, combining exceptional range, size, and ball-handling skills. He excels offensively with efficient mid-range shooting and holds one of the best career offensive ratings in league history. Additionally, Durant has demonstrated elite defensive capabilities, averaging over a block and a steal per game, leveraging his size to impact both ends of the court.

For most of his career, Durant maintained a positive net rating, indicating he was a net positive player for his teams. This streak was unbroken since his rookie season 18 years ago, which saw a -10 net rating due to the Seattle Supersonics' poor 20-62 record during a rebuild. However, last season with the Phoenix Suns, Durant recorded a negative net rating of -2, marking only the second time in his career.

The Suns' struggles last season, including injuries, internal conflicts, and a lack of effort, resulted in them being one of the league's worst defensive teams. Despite Durant averaging over 26 points per game, he could not overcome the team's overall deficiencies. In contrast, the Houston Rockets excelled defensively, finishing in the top four for defensive rating and winning 16 more games than the Suns.

With Durant now joining the Rockets, who are projected to be a top-five defensive team again, his offensive skills are expected to synergize with their strengths. This move should enhance the Rockets' offensive rating and overall performance. Factors like team effort and lineups influence net rating, but Durant is poised to be part of a much stronger team than the Suns.

The combination of Durant's elite offense and the Rockets' stout defense is anticipated to yield significant wins in the 2025-26 season. This environment will likely ensure that Durant avoids consecutive seasons with a negative net rating, reinforcing his status as a impactful player.