The NBA is back, and on ring night, as confetti is prepared and banners await their ascension, the visiting Houston Rockets are walking into Paycom Center not merely as  spectators watching the Oklahoma City Thunder raise their championship banner – but as worthy challengers.

This is no longer a young team simply hoping to develop. The Rockets are here with purpose, power, and one of the greatest scorers of all time leading the charge: Kevin Durant.

When Durant landed in Houston after that stunning trade this summer, it shifted the entire balance of the Western Conference. The message was clear: the Rockets are done waiting for their future. They want to win now, and their time is now.

For years, the Rockets have been stockpiling talent, banking on potential, and emphasizing growth. But after back-to-back seasons of competitiveness under Ime Udoka, the organization decided to accelerate. Durant’s arrival changes everything – from the way Houston runs its offense to the expectations that now hang over the franchise.

Even without Fred VanVleet, who is sidelined with an injury, Houston remains loaded. Instead of patching the gap with another veteran guard, Udoka is doubling down on his young core – placing immense responsibility on Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun.

The Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun leap

Thompson, now entering his second season, will assume full-time point guard duties. It’s a massive leap, but one Udoka and the front office have prepared him for. His athleticism, defensive instincts, and improving court vision make him the natural conductor of this evolving Rockets offense.

If Thompson is the engine, Alperen Sengun is the hub.

Fresh off a spectacular EuroBasket run where he dominated as Turkey’s focal point, Sengun looks ready to translate that same control to the NBA stage. His ability to read defenses, pass from both the low and high post, and score efficiently makes him the centerpiece of Udoka’s halfcourt schemes.

Much like Nikola Jokic in Denver, everything flows through him. The Rockets are embracing a more fluid, motion-based offense that allows Şengün to survey the floor, dictate movement, and create opportunities for Thompson, Durant, and Jabari Smith Jr.

In essence, Sengun has gone from being an intriguing young big to becoming Houston’s offensive cornerstone.

And when paired with Durant – arguably the most adaptable superstar in basketball – the synergy could be special. Durant can play off-ball, spot up from midrange, or stretch defenses beyond the arc, allowing Sengun to orchestrate from the elbow area. When defenses collapse on Sengun, Durant punishes them. And if they crowd Durant, Sengun goes to work inside. It’s a simple offense but one that is highly efficient and sustainable

Durant’s impact: leadership and legacy

For Durant, Houston represents one more opportunity to define his legacy on his own terms.

He’s joined superteams before, carried heavy expectations before, and heard the narratives that follow him. At 37, Durant is still elite, still driven, and now in a situation where his influence extends beyond scoring.

In Houston’s locker room, he’s the standard. His work ethic and professionalism have already rubbed off on the young core. Players like Thompson and Smith Jr. speak openly about the lessons they’re learning from him – how to prepare, how to maintain focus, how to pick your spots on the floor. This team is talented, but Durant’s presence gives them identity.

One of the biggest lineups ever assembled, and Reed Sheppard’s moment

What’s also fascinating about this Rockets team is how physically imposing they’ve become. Udoka hinted during media day that Houston might deploy “one of the biggest lineups in league history.”

He wasn’t exaggerating.

Houston has eight players with wingspans over seven feet, including Durant, Smith Jr., Sengun, Thompson, Steven Adams, Tari Eason, Tari Eason, and Josh Okogie.

Against the Thunder, the Rockets are expected to start Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Steven Adams – a massive group that blends size, versatility, and rim protection.

This lineup has the potential to suffocate teams defensively while overwhelming them on the boards. Amen can switch across multiple positions, Sengun and Adams anchor the paint, Smith Jr.’s improved awareness allows Houston to maintain spacing even with a traditional center on the floor, and Durant is a sneaky good weakside rim protector.

With VanVleet out, rookie guard Reed Sheppard is set to play a more significant role than expected. Known for his high IQ and fearless shooting, Sheppard could provide the spacing and composure Houston needs from the second unit. In a team filled with stars and length, Sheppard’s ability to shoot, defend, and make quick reads could make him the quiet X-factor early in the season.

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All eyes will be on Oklahoma City on opening night. The Thunder will celebrate their first championship in franchise history. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the squad will receive their championship rings, sending the crowd in euphoria.

But on the other side, the Rockets are coming to send a message.

They’re not intimidated by the defending champions –  they’re motivated by them. Houston’s front office watched OKC’s rise closely: a young, homegrown team built around patience, culture, and development. Now, the Rockets believe they can write their own version of that story, except this time, with the added edge of experience and star power.

If there’s ever a statement game to open a season, this is it.

Durant, returning to Oklahoma City where his career began, faces his former team in the most poetic of circumstances – ring night for the franchise he once led, but with him now wearing Rockets red. It’s drama, nostalgia, and rivalry all wrapped into one.

For Houston, it’s not just about spoiling a ceremony. It’s about announcing themselves as legitimate title contenders. They’ve gone all-in on the belief that their young core is ready and that Durant can still be the centerpiece of a championship run. For Ime Udoka, the challenge will be blending experience and youth, ego and development, discipline and creativity.

If it all clicks, Houston could find itself right in the thick of the title race. For a franchise that has waited years for relevance, that has rebuilt patiently and endured countless growing pains, this season is the start of something new.

And it begins under the bright lights in Oklahoma City, where the Rockets will take the floor not as dreamers, but as believers.