Houston Rockets: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Marcus Smart’s ‘Disrespectful’ Comment Gets Response From Lakers GM

Marcus Smart’s stint with the Los Angeles Lakers ended after just one season. Smart averaged 9.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game over 62 games.

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The Quiz of the Day

Rockets Star Kevin Durant’s NBA Career Could Have Started Differently

One of the most famous missteps in NBA Draft history is the Portland Trail Blazers choosing to select Greg Oden over Kevin Durant with the No. 1 pick. Oden’s professional basketball career was ultimately sabotaged by multiple injuries, while the 37-year-old Durant is still an elite scorer for the Houston Rockets.

Houston Rockets News / Houston Rockets on SI / September 26

Rockets Star Alperen Sengun Ranked Just Behind Jokic, Wembanyama

While there is buzz that Amen Thompson could be the Houston Rockets’ next franchise star, Alperen Sengun has made a stronger case for carrying the torch.

Ime Udoka News / Houston Rockets on SI / September 26

Rockets Coach Ime Udoka Reveals Plan for Starting Point Guard

Continuing to make progress in his recovery from a season-ending ACL injury, Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet is gearing up to make his return to the court.

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

Houston Rockets News / Fadeaway World / September 26

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.

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.

Ime Udoka News / Houston Rockets on SI / September 25

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.

NBA News / NBA on ClutchPoints / September 25

Things get interesting when Amen, Ausar Thompson play who’s better?

Twin brothers Ausar and Amen Thompson have been closely linked since being drafted by the Rockets and Pistons in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft.

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.

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’

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.

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.

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 / NBA on ClutchPoints / September 24

Rockets star Reed Sheppard’s latest social media move shows he’s fully embracing Jack Black’s Nacho Libre look

It appears that Reed Sheppard is embracing the Nacho Libre comparisons after the Houston Rockets star made a move on social media to prove it. Sheppard has changed his profile picture on Instagram to a photo of Jack Black as Nacho Libre.

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.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'Multiple 30/30 MLB seasons' quiz

The 'Active NFL catch leaders' quiz

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

The 'NFL 100-touchdown club' quiz

Houston Rockets News / Fadeaway World / September 24

Ime Udoka Reveals How Fred VanVleet’s Return Will Affect Kevin Durant And Alperen Sengun On Offense

The Houston Rockets are shaping up to be an interesting team heading into the 2026-27 season. While the core is largely the same, with Kevin Durant‘s veteran experience supporting the young trio of Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr., Fred VanVleet‘s return should add another dimension to the team’s structure.

Kevin Durant News / EssentiallySports / September 24

'It’s Definitely Levels to This': 6″2 Rockets Rookie Gets a Reality Check After First Practice With Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant has barely begun his Houston Rockets chapter. But one of the team’s newest players has already learned how different the NBA can feel from the college game.

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