Published for Rockets fans — October 2026
By Toxlay Sports Editorial Team · Last updated October 19, 2026
The Club
The Houston Rockets don’t do small. Founded in 1967 (in Houston since 1971), they play at Toyota Center in red, black and white, and they own back-to-back NBA championships — 1994 and 1995, delivered by Hakeem Olajuwon, the most dominant big man of his era. This is the franchise of “Lift Higher Together” — a team built on toughness, defense, and a belief that no one outworks Houston. And after last season’s heartbreak, Space City has unfinished business.
Last Season (2025-26): The Durant Year — and the Playoff Gut Punch
52-30 — second in the Southwest, fifth in the West. It was the Rockets’ best record in years, and it came with a plot twist before a single game was played: on June 22, 2025, Houston announced the blockbuster trade: Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, a 2025 first-rounder and five second-round picks. The city buzzed. The Rockets got off to their best start since the 1993-94 championship season, winning 10 of their first 13, and closed the year winning 9 of 10. But injuries wrote the ending: Fred VanVleet tore his ACL in September and missed the entire season, Steven Adams missed 50 games, and Durant himself was out for five of the six playoff games. Houston fell to a shorthanded Lakers team 4-2 in the first round — a loss that still stings in Space City.
Best Players Right Now (2026-27 Roster)
Kevin Durant, 38, Forward (#7) — The Slim Reaper. One of the greatest scorers in NBA history, playing 78 games last season and carrying the offense whenever he was on the floor. Year two of the Durant era — and this time, he’s healthy for opening night.
Alperen Sengun, 24, Center (#28) — The hub. Posted a 16-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double in 22 preseason minutes. Houston’s offense runs through his passing, and he’s the team’s fantasy and All-Star centerpiece.
Amen Thompson, 23, Guard/Forward (#1) — The future, now. The Rockets just committed five years and $208 million to him with a rookie extension this offseason. Elite defender, explosive athlete, and the guy who takes the pressure off Durant.
Fred VanVleet, 32, Guard (#5) — The missing piece. Tore his ACL in September and watched the whole season from the sideline. His return is the single biggest “addition” of the summer — a true point guard for a team that finished 27th in turnover rate without one.
Jabari Smith Jr., 23, Forward (#10) — The stretch four. A locked-in starter who spaces the floor for Durant and Sengun, and a key part of the young core.
Tari Eason, 25, Forward (#17) — The energy. Dropped 20 points in the preseason win over Dallas; a defensive menace who changes games off the bench.
Reed Sheppard, 22, Guard (#15) — The riser. Averaged 13.5 points, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals over 82 games in his second season, finishing top-10 in Sixth Man of the Year voting. Knocking on the starter’s door.
Marcus Smart, 32, Guard — The new defensive pit bull. Added this summer to bring championship-level grit to the backcourt rotation.
Steven Adams, 33, Center (#12) — The enforcer. Missed 50 games last season; his return gives Houston its physical edge back.
Clint Capela, 32, Center — The veteran big. Back in Houston to anchor the second unit and mentor the frontcourt.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, 34, Guard/Forward — The shooter. Veteran scoring and spacing off the bench in Udoka’s rotation.
Head coach: Ime Udoka — The tone-setter. He confirmed the starting five himself: Durant, Thompson, Sengun, Smith Jr. and VanVleet. Defense-first, no excuses.
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Star Spotlight: Stories You Should Know
The Durant gamble, year two. When Houston traded for Kevin Durant in June 2025, it was a statement: the rebuild was over. Durant delivered — 78 games, elite scoring, the best start since the ’94 title team. But the basketball gods intervened: VanVleet’s ACL, Adams’ injury, and Durant’s own playoff absence. The front office didn’t panic. No deadline trades. Run it back, get healthy, go again. Year two starts now.
The 52-win team that never got its point guard. Without VanVleet, the Rockets had Amen Thompson, Sheppard and even Durant taking turns at the point — and finished 27th in turnover percentage (15.4 a game). They still won 52 games on defense and talent. With VanVleet back, the offense finally has a floor general. That’s the bet for 47.5 wins.
The ghosts of ’94 and ’95. Houston’s identity was forged by Hakeem Olajuwon: back-to-back championships, “Clutch City,” and the 1995 run as a 6-seed that remains one of the great playoff stories ever. This franchise doesn’t hang banners for moral victories. The standard is the standard — and this roster believes.
This Season (2026-27): Healthy, Hungry, and Loaded
Vegas set the win total at 47.5 — with title odds around +3000 — and the preseason has only raised the temperature: Houston beat the Thunder 116-89 at Toyota Center on October 15 and split the Macau games with Dallas. Udoka’s confirmed starting five (Durant, Thompson, Sengun, Smith, VanVleet) was ranked the 4th-best starting lineup in the league. The formula: elite defense, VanVleet’s playmaking, Durant’s scoring, and the Amen Thompson leap. The West’s top two are the Thunder and Spurs — but the Rockets have the talent to hang with both.
Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Games to Watch
Wondering when the Rockets play? The Rockets schedule opens with a bang — here are the dates to circle, and grab your Rockets tickets early:
- October 21 — vs Dallas Mavericks (home opener, 7:30 PM, Toyota Center): Opening night against the in-state rival. Rally towels for 18,000 fans. The Durant era, year two, starts here.
- October 23 — at San Antonio Spurs (8:30 PM, Moody Center, Austin): The Texas war — Wembanyama’s Spurs, on the road, in week one. Statement game.
- October 31 — vs Oklahoma City Thunder (home, 7:30 PM): Halloween night. The West’s best team walks into Toyota Center — and Houston already beat them by 27 in the preseason.
- November 7 — at Phoenix Suns: Durant goes back to Phoenix for the first time since the blockbuster trade. Circle it twice.
- November 11 — vs Golden State Warriors (home): Steph Curry’s Warriors visit Toyota Center. Always a show.
Biggest Rivalries — The Wars
1. Oklahoma City Thunder — The West’s measuring stick. The 64-win Thunder are the class of the conference. Houston beat them 112-106 last February and crushed them 116-89 this preseason. October 31 is the real test.
2. Los Angeles Lakers — THE fresh wound. They ended Houston’s season in six games — shorthanded, no less. The Rockets won’t forget who sent them home.
3. San Antonio Spurs — The Texas war. Wemby vs. Sengun. The I-10 rivalry, renewed. October 23 in Austin is round one.
4. Dallas Mavericks — The state rivalry. Opening night, and four more meetings after it. The two Texas teams always play like the season depends on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kevin Durant still on the Rockets?
Yes — year two of the Durant era. He is healthy for opening night, and he returns to Phoenix with Houston on November 7.
When the Rockets play the Mavericks in 2026-27?
October 21 at Toyota Center for the home opener — rally towels for 18,000 fans against the in-state rival.
Who are the best Rockets players right now?
Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and returning point guard Fred VanVleet — the 4th-best starting five in the league.
When the Rockets play the Thunder in 2026-27?
October 31 at Toyota Center. Houston beat the 64-win Thunder by 27 in the preseason, and this is the West's measuring-stick game.
Show Your Colors
Lift Higher Together — at Toyota Center or watching from home, true fans wear it. Gear up with quality fan sportswear — jerseys, tees and athletic wear built for real supporters:
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Sources & official links: Houston Rockets official site · Houston Rockets tickets
Lift Higher Together — healthy at last, and coming for the West.
