Sunday evening, February 1, 2026, delivered a familiar and well-deserved honor for Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant. The 37-year-old future Hall of Famer was officially named to his 16th career NBA All-Star Game as one of the Western Conference reserves, announced during the league’s live reveal for the February 15 event at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. For Durant—now in his first season with Houston after a blockbuster offseason trade—this selection is anything but surprising. It’s validation of a dominant campaign that’s kept the Rockets firmly in the Western Conference elite.
Durant entered the night ranked No. 11 league-wide in scoring at 26.2 points per game (through 45 games), while sitting in the top three in win shares per Basketball-Reference metrics. His efficiency remains elite (around 50% FG in recent stretches), his playmaking has elevated (4.6 APG), and his two-way impact has been crucial to Houston’s surge to 30-17 and fourth place in the West (1.5 games behind San Antonio). The All-Star nod checks another box in Durant’s quest: being a score-first star on a legitimate title contender. With the post-All-Star stretch looming, Durant and the Rockets now turn full attention to the third box—pushing for a deep playoff run in what could be his final prime window.
Yet amid the celebration for KD, a quieter disappointment lingered for Houston fans: the absence of co-star Alperen Şengün from the All-Star reserves. The 23-year-old Turkish center made his first All-Star appearance last season (2024-25), and his scoring and efficiency have actually improved this year. So why the snub?
The Case for Şengün’s Exclusion: Health, Competition, and Recent Struggles
Şengün has been outstanding overall in 2025-26: improved finishing around the rim, better passing vision, and career-high marks in several efficiency categories. However, two key factors likely kept him off the list:
- Injury absence and timing — Şengün missed seven games in December and January due to an ankle sprain. In a crowded Western Conference All-Star race (where reserves are coach-selected and competition is brutal), even a short absence can hurt visibility and momentum.
- Tough recent matchups and shooting dips — He struggled in high-profile games against fellow All-Stars Chet Holmgren (OKC) and Victor Wembanyama (SAS), both of whom earned West reserve nods. Over his last six games entering the announcement, Şengün shot just 43.8% from the field—not disastrous, but below his season norms and not the kind of dominance that screams “must-include” in a stacked field.
Şengün remains optimistic. Speaking to media last week, he confirmed the ankle is “largely healed and pain-free,” with any lingering soreness expected to vanish during the upcoming All-Star break—a silver lining to the snub. Houston’s remaining schedule is one of the NBA’s easiest (top-10 by opponent winning percentage), with only seven back-to-backs left in the final 16 games before the break. The Rockets have six contests remaining before the hiatus, wrapping up with a February 11 home game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Houston’s Immediate Path: Monday in Indiana and Beyond
The Rockets return to action Monday night on the road against the struggling Indiana Pacers (13-36 record entering the weekend). With Durant having been ruled out earlier due to a left ankle sprain (suffered late last week), Houston will lean on depth—Josh Okogie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Jae’Sean Tate expected to see expanded minutes—while Şengün should shoulder a heavier load in the paint.
Durant is eligible to return as early as Wednesday (vs. Boston Celtics, first night of a back-to-back) or Thursday (vs. Charlotte Hornets). The break provides a reset: rest, recovery, and a chance for Şengün to regain rhythm and prove his All-Star case in the final stretch.
The Bigger Picture: Rockets as a Legitimate Threat
Durant’s 16th All-Star selection underscores Houston’s rapid rise. Paired with Şengün’s growth (even without the nod), young talent like Amen Thompson and Tari Eason, and a defense that’s climbed into the top half of the league, the Rockets are no longer a feel-good story—they’re a contender. The West remains loaded (Spurs, Thunder, Nuggets, Lakers, Clippers), but Houston’s mix of veteran scoring (Durant), interior dominance (Şengün), and depth gives them a real shot.
Rockets fans: Durant’s 16th All-Star is locked in—deserved? Should Şengün have made it despite the hurdles? How far can Houston go post-break?