Overview
- Houston completed its 2025–26 roster by trading for Kevin Durant and preserving its young core of Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard.
- Smith, who agreed to a five-year, $122 million extension on June 29, shared on a recent podcast how surreal it is to train alongside the player he once idolized.
- The team bolstered its championship bid with veteran additions Dorian Finney-Smith, Clint Capela and the retention of Fred VanVleet under new head coach Ime Udoka.
- Teammates report that Durant’s meticulous work ethic and game-speed focus have elevated practice intensity across the roster.
- After a 52–30 finish and a seven-game first-round playoff loss last season, Houston views its blend of youth and veteran leadership as its strongest title opportunity since 1995.