I know it’s just offseason training, but man this team looks scary.. the upcoming china game will be great for team chemistry building on and off the floor.

With improved health and another year of experience with their young core, the Houston Rockets appear to have everything they need to rank among the top contenders in the Western Conference this season — on paper.

But after back-to-back first-round playoff exits, there’s natural skepticism about whether Houston is ready to live up to expectations and take the next step as a contender. 

We decided to go through the key players on this season’s roster with one burning question each must answer entering the campaign. We have stuck to players likely to be in the rotation, with perhaps a bonus player at the end.

Free to read: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/chip-engelland-shooting-alperen-sengun-22451501.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vc3BvcnRzL3JvY2tldHMvYXJ0aWNsZS9jaGlwLWVuZ2VsbGFuZC1zaG9vdGluZy1hbHBlcmVuLXNlbmd1bi0yMjQ1MTUwMS5waHA%3D&time=MTc5MDYxMzgzMDMyMw%3D%3D&rid=MWM0ZTM0OTQtYTE2OS00ZTc1LTlkZjctYTdjMDBlZTdmMjcy&sharecount=OQ%3D%3D

Players In NBA History To Average A Career 2+ 3PG, 1+ SPG & 1+ BPG (RS + Playoffs) :

• Kevin Durant (1372 GP)
• Victor Wembanyama (203 GP)

From Amens TikTok 15 hours ago

Via:@ByVarunShankar on X

Amen Thompson player preview:

- A look back at last season

- A key stat

- What to watch over the first 20 games

- What's a successful season for Amen?

Gift link, free to read:

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/amen-thompson-rockets-season-preview-22445845.php?taid=6ab56532a627190001d5e837&utm_campaign=article-share&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_source=marketing&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vc3BvcnRzL3JvY2tldHMvYXJ0aWNsZS9hbWVuLXRob21wc29uLXJvY2tldHMtc2Vhc29uLXByZXZpZXctMjI0NDU4NDUucGhw&time=MTc5MDI3MzIwODU0Mg%3D%3D&rid=MWM0ZTM0OTQtYTE2OS00ZTc1LTlkZjctYTdjMDBlZTdmMjcy&sharecount=Nw%3D%3D

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Vibes are high !! Stay healthy and let’s get this ring

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Exclusive: Marcus Smart called the Lakers' offer 'disrespectful.' Here's why he chose the Rockets.

Plus, some notes from the first day of training camp. Free to read.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/marcus-smart-lakers-rockets-22445135.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vc3BvcnRzL3JvY2tldHMvYXJ0aWNsZS9tYXJjdXMtc21hcnQtbGFrZXJzLXJvY2tldHMtMjI0NDUxMzUucGhw&time=MTc5MDE5NjI1MTA0MQ%3D%3D&rid=MWM0ZTM0OTQtYTE2OS00ZTc1LTlkZjctYTdjMDBlZTdmMjcy&sharecount=Ng%3D%3D

Just noticed he hasn't been resigned yet, would hate to lose his vet presence

On the other hand, the last two seasons ended with rudderless first-round exits. Failure to reach the second round three years in a row would almost feel like a point of no return for the current iteration of this team.

With Kevin Durant — who turns 38 on Sept. 29 — operating as the face of the franchise, the urgency to win now will always be heightened. However, it feels more like now or never for the supporting cast Houston meticulously put in place before Durant’s arrival.

This team is talented enough to win at a high level. But can it compete with Western Conference powerhouses such as San Antonio or Oklahoma City? If not, what does the Rockets’ path forward look like?

“Everybody around the organization knows we’re better than what we put out during the playoffs last year. We’re better than what everybody thinks,” Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. said Tuesday. “Our expectation is always to win it all. That’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to just keep improving every year. … We definitely should be a better team. It’s just on us to put it together.”

On paper, Smith is correct. The Rockets are returning eight of their top 10 guys in minutes played from a team that won 52 games in a competitive Western Conference.

They’re bringing back veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, who missed the entire 2025-26 season with a torn right ACL, to fill arguably the biggest hole on last season’s roster as a lead ballhandler and a calming presence in the clutch. The Rockets also added Marcus Smart in free agency, a veteran who can fill multiple roles and, most importantly, is another player who has been to the NBA Finals.

With better luck in the health department, Houston has a 10-man rotation that can go toe-to-toe with just about anyone in the West — including the Spurs and the Thunder.