Houston Rockets: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr. Talks Overcoming Young Team Narrative And First-Round Exit Frustrations

The Rockets began their training camp on September 23, following their media day. After the first two days of training, Jabari Smith Jr. spoke to the media scrum at the facility, describing what the first two days of camp had been like and referencing his takeaways from last season.

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Ime Udoka Explains Former Knicks Coach's Visit to Rockets Training Camp

Houston Rockets training camp started earlier this week, giving the Rockets a chance to acclimate before the start of preseason action in early October.

Tari Eason News / The Dream Shake / September 25

Considering Some Rockets Media Day Comments

A new season is almost upon us, and for that I am very grateful. The Rockets held their 2026-7 season Media Day on Wednesday. It’s fun, you get to see the players, see the new uniforms (a welcome return to a a modified Catsup and Mustard!), and hear what the coaches, management and players have to say about the upcoming season.

Amen Thompson News / Houston Rockets on SI / September 25

Amen Thompson Can Become NBA Superstar By Reaching This Goal

Amen Thompson is set to be a central piece of the Houston Rockets’ long-term plans. Earlier this month, Thompson signed a five-year, $208 million contract extension with the franchise.

Kawhi Leonard News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NBA Playoff scoring record by team' quiz

How many of the players to rack up the most points in one playoff run for each NBA franchise can you name in five minutes?

The '2018-19 PPG leaders by team' quiz

The 'Last 30-point, 10-assist playoff games' quiz

The 'NBA 6th Man of the Year winners' quiz

NBA News / Yardbarker / September 25

Losing Marcus Smart left a dangerous vulnerability in the Lakers' roster

Following late-season injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the Los Angeles Lakers played with an all-new starting five in last season's playoffs.

Odds are against Rockets' optimism about better health

JJ Redick jokes that Lakers’ starting 5 won’t be ‘all white guys’

NBA News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest NBA Finals performances of all-time

The regular season is important, but NBA legends are made in the playoffs. More specifically, it's the Finals where the all-time greats have built their otherworldly reputations.

Houston Rockets News / The Dream Shake / September 25

Rockets are right to return to double-big lineups

Basketball is the most stylish sport. There’s no way to quantify this, but it feels too true to include qualifiers. There’s more room for creativity. It’s poetry in motion.

Kevin Durant News / Houston Rockets on SI / September 25

The Ideal NBA Trade Partner for Kevin Durant

At 37 years old, Kevin Durant is still considered to be one of the top players in the NBA. Durant averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists over 78 games last season, earning All-NBA Second Team honors.

Houston Rockets News / EssentiallySports / September 25

Charles Barkley Says Kevin Durant’s Leadership Is the Reason Why Rockets Have No Chance Against Spurs or Thunder

A few years ago, Charles Barkley famously called Kevin Durant a “bus rider” after the superstar chose to join the Golden State Warriors. Now, the NBA icon is taking another shot.

Fred VanVleet News / Houston Rockets on SI / September 24

Fred VanVleet Reveals Call From 4-Time All-Star After ACL Injury

Fred VanVleet suffered an ACL injury about one month prior to the 2025-2026 season. The typical recovery timeline for an NBA player returning from an ACL injury is around nine to 12 months, which fits with VanVleet’s timeline.

Tom Thibodeau News / NBA on ClutchPoints / September 24

Tom Thibodeau spotted at Rockets practice, and his skinny jeans need to be seen to be believed

The Houston Rockets are currently gearing up for the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season, which is slated to get underway in less than a month. The Rockets are hoping that the return of Fred VanVleet will help guide them to a better result than their disappointing first round playoff exit a year ago.

Marcus Smart News / Houston Rockets on SI / September 24

Marcus Smart: Defense Gets You on the Court

On Tuesday, the Houston Rockets open the 2026-27 season with their media day at the Toyota Center. That means players such as Kevin Durant, and newly signed players such as former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanović get the chance to address the media for the first time this season.

NBA News / Yardbarker

The 25 best NBA players to never play in college

Typically, the path to the NBA for most players is to spend at least a season in college to get high-level basketball and important development under their belts.

Kevin Durant News / Houston Rockets on SI / September 24

Kevin Durant Continues to Defy Age in Latest Rankings

Kevin Durant has spent so long near the top of the NBA that I think we've gotten used to it. ESPN just released its player rankings heading into the 2026-27 season, and Durant came in at No.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / September 24

Amen Thompson Has Extra Motivation Entering New Rockets Season

Amen Thompson could have walked into Houston Rockets Media Day talking about everything he accomplished last season. Instead, he focused on where he still needs to get better.

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The 'Active NFL catch leaders' quiz

The '4K-yard, 30-TD NFL seasons' quiz

The 'NFL 100-touchdown club' quiz

The 'Most 300-yard, 3-TD NFL games' quiz

Ime Udoka News / Houston Rockets on SI / September 24

Coach Ime Udoka Believes Rockets Are Being Overlooked

The Houston Rockets have serious potential to break through as true contenders in the Western Conference. The Rockets could not capitalize on a 52-win regular season finish, being eliminated in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, but momentum is pushing toward next season.

Marcus Smart News / HITC / September 24

‘Way worse than…’ Marcus Smart calls out ‘disrespectful’ LA Lakers offer after joining Rockets

Marcus Smart claims he felt disrespected by the Los Angeles Lakers’ contract offer, which led to him joining the Houston Rockets in free agency instead.

Kevin Durant News / Fadeaway World / September 24

Kevin Durant Claps Back After Iman Shumpert Criticizes His Warriors Decision Again: ‘Pull Ya Panties Up’

Kevin Durant and Iman Shumpert have been engaged in a heated back-and-forth about the 37-year-old superstar’s 2016 move to the Warriors. Shumpert once again called out Durant during his recent appearance on the Gil’s Arena show and compared it to a robbery.

Houston Rockets News / Yardbarker / September 24

Odds are against Rockets' optimism about better health

The Houston Rockets are banking on the return of two veterans who missed all or most of last season. They've also added two veterans not known for staying on the court.

Kevin Durant: Not thinking about retirement or final NBA stop

Dorian Finney-Smith left in limbo after second trade of summer

Marcus Smart: Lakers’ Offer In Free Agency Was ‘Disrespectful’

The '5 3-pointer, 5-steal playoff games' quiz

Marcus Smart News / Larry Brown Sports / September 23

Marcus Smart says the Lakers disrespected him

Marcus Smart clearly has no love lost for his former team. The new Houston Rockets guard Smart spoke this week in an interview to Varun Shankar of The Houston Chronicle.

Fred VanVleet News / NBA on ClutchPoints / September 23

First look at Fred VanVleet in Rockets training camp after ACL injury

The Houston Rockets have gotten their training camp underway this week as they prepare for the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season. The Rockets will be getting point guard Fred VanVleet back this season after he missed the entire 2025-26 season due to a torn ACL injury suffered just prior to the start of that campaign.

Houston Rockets News / Larry Brown Sports / September 23

Steven Adams sees a bizarre culprit that will affect the NBA

Steven Adams isn’t John Nash, but he just floated a wild game theory – sort of. During the Houston Rockets’ media day on Tuesday, the veteran NBA big man seemingly sent a warning not just to the NBA but also to the NFL about a possible decline in overall performance come November.

Amen Thompson News / Larry Brown Sports / September 23

Amen Thompson reveals first purchase after signing a stunning contract

Amen Thompson is now hundreds of millions richer after landing a contract extension with the Houston Rockets, but you wouldn’t know it from the first item he bought with that money.

Alperen Sengun News / HITC / September 23

‘I want to…’ Rockets star Alperen Sengun reveals ‘best in the NBA’ goal

Alperen Sengun has been named to the NBA All-Star team in consecutive years, but his ambition is much greater. The Houston Rockets have enjoyed some excellent NBA regular seasons recently.

Kevin Durant News / Hoops Wire / September 23

Kevin Durant: Not thinking about retirement or final NBA stop

Rockets star Kevin Durant isn’t ready to say Houston will be his final NBA stop. He also doesn’t sound like someone preparing to retire anytime soon. Durant was asked during Houston’s media day whether he has considered finishing his career with the organization.

Fred VanVleet News / TWSN / September 22

Houston Rockets Receive Massive Fred VanVleet Injury Update Before Training Camp

Ahead of the 2026 NBA season getting underway, the Houston Rockets have received encouraging news ahead of the season. Head coach Ime Udoka announced that

NBA News / Yardbarker / September 22

Dorian Finney-Smith left in limbo after second trade of summer

Last summer, Finney-Smith signed with the Houston Rockets, in part because he wanted to return to Texas. Now he's buried on the Atlanta Hawks depth chart after being traded for the second time this summer.

Hawks, Hornets swap veterans in three-player trade

NBA expansion may be too lucrative for owners to pass up

The 'NBA 6th Man of the Year winners' quiz