The Houston Rockets are entering the final phase of their rebuild that began in 2020 with the trades of Russell Westbrook and James Harden. The first phase was acquiring talent through the draft as a bottom-dwelling team. The next phase was bringing in veterans and a long-term coach to guide the young players into winning habits. Now, they bring in a player capable of being one of the league’s 10 best players to help them contend against other championship hopefuls.
Kevin Durant’s addition drastically increases Houston’s odds of winning its third championship, but the Rockets won’t accomplish much if they rely solely on Durant the way other top teams rely on their best players.
Houston can’t afford to focus its entire game plan around Durant, like the Denver Nuggets do for Nikola Jokić or the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Durant is a fantastic scorer, but he functions best when the rest of his team is playing quality, team-centric basketball.
He’s not like a prime version of Harden, who would take on opposing defenses one-on-one. Durant prefers to get his shots within the flow of the offense until crunch time, when teams have needed him to take over.
Head coach Ime Udoka has never had a player of Durant’s caliber, but he has always coached his teams to emphasize getting the ball to whoever is hot. Any player can take significant shots for the offense, even if they play a smaller role than the best offensive player on the team.
However, many games will feature Durant as the best offensive option in most possessions. To avoid overreliance on Durant, Houston has invested stock in some of its young players who are still on track to improve next season.
Let’s break down how the Rockets can avoid the “hero ball” trap and why Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson are the keys to unlocking a sustainable championship offense.
The Durant Philosophy: Flow, Not Force
Let’s start with how Kevin Durant actually wants to play.
Durant is not James Harden. He’s not Luka Dončić. He’s not a heliocentric, ball-dominant playmaker who wants the ball in his hands every possession. Durant is at his best when the offense is moving, when he’s catching the ball in rhythm, when he’s flowing to his spots.
In Golden State, Durant thrived in Steve Kerr’s motion offense. He didn’t need to dominate the ball. He moved without the ball. He cut. He spotted up. He let the system create advantages for him.
In Houston, the Rockets need to replicate that environment. They can’t just give Durant the ball and clear out. They need to move. They need to cut. They need to keep the defense guessing.
Udoka has emphasized getting the ball to whoever is hot. That philosophy works. But it only works if the ball is moving in the first place.
The Sengun Factor: An All-Star Hub in the Post
Let’s talk about Alperen Sengun.
Sengun just secured his first All-Star selection, a fitting reward for being Houston’s best player throughout the rebuild. He’s a 23-year-old center who can score in the post, pass from the high post, and rebound.
He’s not a traditional defensive anchor, but he’s an offensive hub. He can take pressure off Durant by initiating the offense from the elbow. He can find cutters. He can hit shooters. He can create his own shot against slower bigs.
If the Rockets run their offense through Sengun, Durant can play off the ball. That’s when Durant is most dangerous – when he’s moving, cutting, and catching in rhythm.
Sengun and Durant could form a devastating two-man game. Sengun sets a screen, Durant curls off it. Sengun finds Durant for a mid-range jumper. Or Sengun rolls to the rim, Durant finds him for a lob. The possibilities are endless.
The Thompson Factor: First-Team All-Defense and Transition Offense
Let’s talk about Amen Thompson.
Thompson earned 1st-Team All-Defense honors for his elite efforts defensively. He’s a 6-foot-7 athletic freak who can guard multiple positions, create turnovers, and start fast breaks.
In transition, Thompson is a blur. He can get to the rim before the defense sets. He can finish above the rim. He can draw fouls.
If the Rockets can get stops, Thompson can push the pace. That’s when Durant is also at his best – running the floor, spotting up for trailing threes, or finishing lobs.
Thompson doesn’t need the ball to be effective. But his presence changes the geometry of the floor. Defenses have to account for him in transition. They have to respect his athleticism.
That opens up space for Durant and Sengun.
The Udoka System: “Get the Ball to Whoever Is Hot”
Let’s go back to Ime Udoka’s coaching philosophy.
Udoka has never had a player of Durant’s caliber. But he’s always coached his teams to emphasize getting the ball to whoever is hot. That means if Sengun is cooking in the post, feed him. If Thompson is attacking the rim, give him the ball. If Jabari Smith Jr. is hitting threes, keep feeding him.
Durant is okay with that. He’s always been okay with that. He’s not a ball hog. He’s not a stat chaser. He wants to win.
The danger is when the offense stagnates. When players stand around watching Durant. When the ball stops moving.
Udoka’s job is to prevent that. He needs to instill a system where the ball moves, players cut, and everyone touches it.
The Danger: Hero Ball and the Harden Comparison
Let’s address the elephant in the room.
The Rockets’ previous era was defined by James Harden isolating at the top of the key, dribbling for 15 seconds, and either shooting a step-back three or driving to the rim. It worked in the regular season. It failed in the playoffs.
Durant is not Harden. He doesn’t want to play that way. He’s not built to play that way.
If the Rockets fall into the trap of isolating Durant every possession, they will fail. Defenses will load up on him. They’ll send double-teams. They’ll force the ball out of his hands.
The Rockets need other creators. They need Sengun to initiate. They need Thompson to attack. They need Reed Sheppard to shoot.
The Jokić Comparison: What the Rockets Can Learn from Denver
Let’s look at the best example of a team-centric offense.
The Denver Nuggets don’t just give Nikola Jokić the ball and clear out. They run offense through him, but they also cut, screen, and move. Jamal Murray plays off the ball. Michael Porter Jr. spots up. Aaron Gordon cuts to the rim.
The Nuggets’ offense is beautiful because it’s a system, not just a superstar.
The Rockets need to build something similar. Sengun is not Jokić – no one is – but he can be a hub. Durant is not Murray, but he can play off the ball. Thompson is not Gordon, but he can cut and defend.
The blueprint exists. The Rockets just need to follow it.
The 2025-26 Season: What Worked and What Didn’t
Let’s look at the season that just ended.
The Rockets finished 52-30. They made the playoffs. They lost in the first round.
What worked? The defense was solid. The young players developed. Durant was efficient when he played.
What didn’t work? The offense became too reliant on Durant in the playoffs. When he got hurt, the offense collapsed. When he was on the court, defenses loaded up on him.
The Rockets need more balance. They need Sengun and Thompson to take the next step. They need to be able to win games without Durant playing 40 minutes.
The Road Ahead: A Sustainable Championship Offense
Let’s look to the future.
If the Rockets want to be legitimate championship contenders, they need a sustainable offense. That means:
Sengun initiating from the post and elbow
Thompson attacking in transition and cutting off the ball
Durant flowing within the system, not forcing isolations
Smith Jr. and Sheppard spacing the floor
The talent is there. The coaching is there. The only thing missing is the commitment to playing the right way.
Durant has said he wants to fit in, not stand out. He’s willing to play within a system. He’s willing to let younger players take on larger roles.
Now, the Rockets have to make that happen.
The Houston Rockets are entering the final phase of their rebuild. They have Kevin Durant, a top-10 player. They have Alperen Sengun, a first-time All-Star. They have Amen Thompson, a first-team All-Defense selection.
The pieces are there. The potential is immense.
But potential doesn’t win championships. Execution does.
The Rockets cannot afford to rely solely on Durant. They cannot afford to isolate him every possession. They cannot afford to forget about Sengun and Thompson.
Durant functions best when the offense is moving. He thrives when the ball is flowing. He wins when his teammates are engaged.
If the Rockets can build a team-centric offense around their young core and Durant, they can contend for a championship.
If they fall into the hero ball trap, they’ll be watching the Finals from home.
The choice is theirs.