Houston Rockets: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Rockets poach a cult hero coach from the Thunder

Kevin Durant’s current team is raiding the cupboard of his former team. The Houston Rockets are hiring Chip Engelland to serve as an assistant coach, Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Wednesday.

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The Quiz of the Day

Rockets’ Reed Sheppard reveals ‘biggest thing’ he’s done in offseason to improve

Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard took a big leap in production in his second season in the NBA. Playing all 82 games last year, the former Kentucky Wildcat star proved to be a reliable option off the bench.

NBA News / NBA on ClutchPoints / July 22

Rockets add ex-Thunder, Spurs assistant to Ime Udoka’s staff

The Houston Rockets are bringing in one of the most respected shooting coaches in basketball. Houston is hiring Chip Engelland as a new assistant coach on Ime Udoka’s staff, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Atlanta Hawks News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Youngest 35-point NBA games' quiz

How many of the NBA players to score at least 35 points in a game before turning 20 years old can you name in five minutes?

The 'Most NBA 3-pointers all-time' quiz

The 'Season triple-double leaders by team' quiz

The '2025 NBA double-double leader by team' quiz

Chip Engelland News / Hoops Rumors / July 22

Rockets Hiring Chip Engelland As Assistant Coach

Veteran assistant coach Chip Engelland is leaving the Thunder to take a position as an assistant coach with the Rockets under Ime Udoka, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

NBA News / Yardbarker

The 25 biggest NBA clutch performers who weren't stars

At the end of the game or in other big moments, it's usually the team's stars who have the ball. Sometimes, though, it's the role players who get the chance to shine and deliver.

Houston Rockets News / Larry Brown Sports / July 22

Kendrick Perkins calls out Kevin Durant for offseason workout

Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Durant were once teammates with the Oklahoma City Thunder, but that hasn’t stopped Perkins from calling out the two-time NBA Finals MVP.

Tari Eason News / The Dream Shake / July 22

Rockets receive unfortunate offseason grade

The Houston Rockets are maneuvering through their offseason trying to get better with smaller details compared to last year’s big, splashy trade for Kevin Durant.

LeBron James News / Houston Rockets on SI / July 22

Where Do the Houston Rockets Stand in the LeBron James Sweepstakes?

Heading toward the later part of July, LeBron James has yet to make a decision on his next playing destination. Last season, James averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Houston Rockets News / Yardbarker / July 22

Kevin Durant hit with surprising trade rumor narrative

Adding Durant has done little to help the three teams he's played for since he left the Bay Area.

Rich Paul sends warning to teams about LeBron James' free-agency decision

Four NBA teams that thrived after whiffing on top picks

The 'Most 30-point NBA games at 35+' quiz

Bruce Thornton News / The Dream Shake / July 22

What’s next for Bruce Thornton this upcoming season

Editor’s Note: Welcome back to our old friend, Lachard! The Houston Rockets Summer League saw their season come to an end Saturday with a 97-86 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in the semifinals.

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.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / July 22

The One Thing the Rockets Will Regret About This Offseason

In a summer buzzing around Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, and LeBron James, the Houston Rockets have been one of the NBA’s quieter teams this offseason.

Houston Rockets News / NBA on ClutchPoints / July 21

Kendrick Perkins urges Rockets’ Kevin Durant to mentor Jabari Smith, Alperen Sengun

The Houston Rockets disappointed last season, as they were once again a first-round exit team even though they came up against a shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers squad that was without its best player in Luka Doncic.

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The 'NFL yards-per-catch leaders' quiz

The 'Youngest 4K-yard NFL passers' quiz

The '2K-yard NFL rushers' quiz

The 'FIFA World Cup champions' quiz

Alperen Sengun News / NBA on ClutchPoints / July 21

Alperen Sengun named the key to unlocking Rockets’ ceiling

The Houston Rockets have made the NBA Playoffs in each of the last two seasons, but they barely have anything to show for those two trips to the postseason, having been eliminated twice in the first round during that stretch.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / July 21

The Houston Rockets will thrive if this happens

Jabari Smith Jr. was in the running to be the No. 1 pick in 2022. As the college basketball season unfolded, Duke’s Paolo Banchero, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren and Smith, having led Auburn to its first No.

Houston Rockets News / NBA on ClutchPoints / July 21

Rockets labeled NBA title contender despite playoff flop, quiet offseason amid chaos

The Houston Rockets enter the 2026–27 season with questions surrounding their championship outlook, but The Ringer’s Michael Pina believes they remain one of the NBA’s legitimate title contenders despite a disappointing playoff exit and a relatively quiet offseason.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / July 20

Ex-Rockets Guard Victor Oladipo Reveals Why He Elected To Cut The Middleman Out

Last week, former two-time All-Star and ex-Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo held a private workout in Las Vegas in front of NBA Scouts, general managers, and executives around the league.

Kevin Durant News / Stadium Rant / July 20

Kevin Durant Trade: Why The Rockets May Already Regret The Deal

Kevin Durant is known as one of the best scorers, and depending on who you ask, the best scorer to ever play this game. The veteran has been in Houston now for a full season, but it didn’t turn out well, and you could say it was awkward.

Houston Rockets News / The Dream Shake / July 18

Rockets Face Grizzlies In VSL26 Semi-Finals

5:30pm CT July 18th 2026 Amazon Prime Video That’s right, it’s the Vegas Summer League Semi Final! The Rockets made it! The 3-1 Rockets will take on the 3-1 Memphis Gristlies for the right to play the winner of Los Angeles Lakers Vs Golden State Warriors in the VEGAS SUMMER LEAGUE 2026 GRANDE FINAL!

Houston Rockets News / The Dream Shake / July 18

Three Rockets on the worst-layup-percentage list

A curious statistic is making its way across social media that connects four Houston Rockets players in a not-so-good way. Here’s a list of the worst layup FG% in the NBA over the last 5 seasons (min.

Houston Rockets News / Hoops Wire / July 17

NBA Notes: Rockets, Fred VanVleet, Hawks, Peyton Watson, Thunder

Rockets guard Fred VanVleet believes he’s on track to be back on the court this fall. Speaking with Erik Horne of Andscape, VanVleet said he expects to be available for Houston’s preseason schedule as he continues recovering from the torn ACL and meniscus that sidelined him throughout the 2025-26 season.

Fred VanVleet News / Hoops Rumors / July 17

Fred VanVleet Talks ACL Recovery, Optimism For 2026/27

Speaking to Erik Horne of Andscape last week in Las Vegas, Rockets guard Fred VanVleet said his recovery from a torn right ACL and meniscus has “tested”

Bruce Thornton News / The Lead / July 16

Rockets’ Bruce Thornton Is Checking Every Box at NBA Summer League

The Rockets didn’t have a first-round pick in the 2026 Draft. Instead, they traded up as far as they could into the second round to draft Bruce Thornton at pick No.

Houston Rockets News / Fadeaway World / July 10

6 Free Agents The Houston Rockets Should Target To Improve Their Roster

The Houston Rockets have already done most of their expected moves this offseason. Kevin Durant is still in town, Tari Eason was re-signed on a team-friendly deal, Marcus Smart brings another defensive-minded veteran to Ime Udoka‘s rotation, and Bogdan Bogdanovic gives the second unit some shooting.

Houston Rockets News / Hoops Rumors / July 7

Rockets Sign Bruce Thornton To Four-Year Contract

Bruce Thornton, the first player selected in the second round of this year’s draft, has officially signed his first NBA contract, the Rockets announced today in a press release.

NBA News / Yardbarker / July 3

Five best signings of NBA free agency

Here's a look at the five best signings of free agency so far.

Five worst signings of free agency

Celtics make under-the-radar quality move to retain Neemias Queta

Rockets' Kevin Durant might quietly be on the trade block again

One team has pursued a Durant trade

Father knows best: Tim Hardaway Sr. denies son's request

Tari Eason News / Field Level Media / July 2

Reports: Rockets F Tari Eason agrees to 5-year, $81.5M contract

Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason has agreed to a five-year, $81.5 million contract to return to the team, according to multiple reports on Thursday night.