Written by Brett Grega
Edited 10/16/2025
Liftoff! It’s Rockets’ season here in H-Town!
We’re here to help bring you everything you need to know about the launch of the Houston Rockets’ 2025-26 season! From superstar signings to young stars to keep an eye on as the season unfolds, we’ve dribbled through the web to find you the top Rockets stories you need to know before catching a game this season. Plus, we’re highlighting five of the can’t miss early season home clashes, too! This is a slam dunk read for any Rockets fan!
Photo via the Houston Rockets' website
Biggest Houston Rockets Stories to Follow:
A Superstar Blasts into H-Town:
The Rockets shook the NBA to its core with what would eventually become the largest trade in league history over the summer, involving seven teams and 13 players alongside plenty of draft capital. The Rockets were the centerpiece of it all, trading Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and the #10 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, along with multiple second round picks, in exchange for Kevin Durant and the returning Clint Capela.
Durant needs no introduction at this point in his career, but it’s still amazing to hear how the stats behind the superstar. Currently occupying the number 8 spot on the all-time scoring list, between the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and Wilt Chamberlain no less, Durant is a two-time champ and NBA Finals MVP. He’s got 15 all-stars to his name and the 2014 MVP award. In short, KD is one of the GOATs. How does that line up with the Rockets and their young core of players? For more on the fit between Houston and Durant, check out this Sports Illustrated cover story on “How the NBA’s Perfect Fit Finally Came Together.”
More Moves in Houston
Durant wasn’t the only key addition to the Rockets increasingly exciting team, either. Houston also brought in Dorian Finney-Smith, an archetypal tough 3-and-D forward, to a four-year deal. Finney-Smith is a flexible player often assigned some of the toughest players to guard on defense. For more on what Rockets fans should expect from him, take a look at this player preview on The Dream Shake.
The Rockets also brought in former 2018 first round pick, Josh Okogie, along with last year’s G-League MVP, JD Davidson, both on one-year deals. Both provide the team with some much needed depth at guard (more on that below). All these deals are also without mentioning the return of Clint Capela on a three-year deal via a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks that was eventually rolled into the gigantic Durant deal. Capela also gives the Rockets more depth at center as well as a reliable shot-blocker and rebounder.
Fred VanVleet and What’s Next at Point Guard:
Now, for the tough news, the Rockets unfortunately lost Fred VanVleet to a torn ACL he sustained in practice. VanVleet, a key piece of the Rockets’ run last season, could be out for the entire season. That leaves the team with a huge hole at point guard with absolutely massive shoes to fill considering VanVleet led the team in assists and steals last year.
As noted in this Yahoo Sports piece, Amen Thompson is one of the players projected to step in to handle VanVleet’s ballhandler role for the Rockets this year as a result. Thompson’s assists per 100 possessions saw a huge bump when he wasn’t on the court with VanVleet last year, making the young playmaking forward the closest the team might have to an ideal replacement. That’s without even mentioning last year’s #3 overall pick, Reed Sheppard, who’s likely to officially man the point guard position itself. Sheppard will look to make a leap in 2025 to become more of the efficient scoring threat he was in his Kentucky days, something he’s already started to show as the preseason has rolled on.
Alperen Continues to Ascend
Along with Thompson and Sheppard, the Rockets have no shortage of young talent to keep an eye on. Leading the way is Alperen Sengun, the dynamic Rockets center who’s already made waves before the season’s even begun thanks to his exceptional play on the Turkey National Team at FIBA EuroBasket 2025. Sengun put up 28 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists against Nikola Jokic’s Serbia during the tournament as he helped bring his team all the way to the tournament finals. Sengun would go on to be awarded one of five all-star honors from the tournament. It all marks just the latest in Sengun’s continued ascension to NBA stardom.
Photo via the Houston Rockets' website
5 Highlight Home Games to Start the Season
Friday, October 24th at the Toyota Center (7:00 PM)
It all starts here at home for the Rockets! After opening the season against OKC on the 21st, the Rockets head home for this clash with another fellow upstart team, the Detroit Pistons. Led by breakout star Cade Cunningham at point guard, the Pistons present a stiff test for the new-look Rockets. Cunningham averaged 26 points and nine assists a game for the Pistons last year. Also, look out for the Thompson twins to face off against one another again as Ausar calls Detroit home. There’s even a bruising battle at the rim between Jalen Duran, who averaged 10 rebounds a game last season, and Alperen Sengun.
With Kevin Durant debuting in his first regular season home game as a member of Houston, those matchups somehow make this clash even more exciting for Rockets fans! Plus, fans will receive a Rockets hat for heading to the game. This is the perfect matchup for launching into a new Rockets season.
Monday, November 3rd at the Toyota Center (7:00 PM)
Not only is this a cross-state clash between two top Western Conference teams, it’s also your first chance to see this year’s #1 pick in action at the Toyota Center! Cooper Flagg is one of the most highly-touted prospects in recent history, having made waves with his performance in a Team USA scrimmage against some of the top stars in basketball before he ever even stepped foot on the court.
Combined with the presence of Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson, there’s certainly no shortage of star power in this matchup. The possible Durant and Davis matchup alone will be more than worth the price of admission! If that’s not enough, the first 3,000 fans at the arena will also receive an awesome Amen Thompson bobblecard that you can see at the game link above!
Friday, November 14th at the Toyota Center (7:00 PM)
The NBA Cup kicks off for Houston with this Friday night fight against the Trail Blazers! Although the Trail Blazers finished with a 36-46 record last season, they’re still a dangerous team, especially in a virtual must-win setting as the Rockets aim to advance through group play. Boasting a litany of young talent, along with incoming all-star Jrue Holiday, this should be an intriguing way for the Rockets’ NBA Cup journey to begin.
Sunday, November 16th at the Toyota Center (6:00 PM)
Get some great new Kevin Durant merch, plus see a rare cross-conference matchup between two playoff teams when the Rockets battle the Magic! The first 3,000 fans at the Toyota Center will receive a Kevin Durant bobblehead along with the kind of game they’re likely not going to want to miss!
The Magic aim for even greater playoff success this season after acquiring Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies to pair with their dynamic forward duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Bane averaged a hyper-efficient 19 points a game for the Grizzlies last season, and will likely help turn this team into even more of a contender. It’ll be a true test for KD and the Rockets up and down the court, and possibly even a Finals preview depending on how the season shakes out.
Friday, November 21st at the Toyota Center (8:30 PM)
Remember that FIBA EuroBasket battle between Alperen Sengun and Nikola Jokic? This is your chance to see the rematch in an NBA Cup game no less! Jokic is one of the most talented stars in today’s game, making this a real test of Sengun’s continued development as a superstar in his own right. Plus, the Nuggets are perpetual contenders in the Western Conference. It’s certainly no stretch of the imagination to envision these two teams meeting again on the road to the NBA Finals. Needless to say, that all makes this a massive matchup that you won’t want to miss!
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