Overview

• The NBA schedule kicks off Houston’s season at the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct. 21, marking Kevin Durant’s first appearance there in five years.
• Key rematches include a Nov. 24 road trip to Phoenix against former teammates Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks and a Nov. 26 Golden State visit to close NBA Cup group play.
• Kevin Durant has actively engaged critics on Twitter with pointed replies, drawing sustained media coverage before his Rockets debut.
• A fan’s viral squirrel-themed response to Durant’s “I can lose every game from here on out” tweet underscores the heightened online spectacle around his arrival.
• Former players such as Jamal Crawford have praised Durant’s fit in Houston and bolstered the perception of the Rockets as early title contenders.