Rockets fans, strap in for a season of sky-high expectations! As training camp kicked off in late September 2025, Houston’s rising star center Alperen Sengun brushed off ESPN’s Top 100 player rankings, boldly claiming the Rockets boast a roster packed with top-10 talent. But USA Today’s basketball panel wasn’t buying it, naming only one Rocket—Kevin Durant, the newly acquired superstar—to their prestigious Top 25 list, slotting him at No. 9. Sengun, despite his breakout 2024-25 campaign, didn’t make the cut, leaving fans buzzing on X about whether Houston’s young core is being slept on. For thrill-seekers like you, who feel the rush of a motorcycle’s open road but know the peril of a sharp curve, Durant’s arrival and Sengun’s snub mirror that balance of proven glory and untapped potential. Let’s dive into why KD’s elite scoring and playmaking make him Houston’s cornerstone, how Ime Udoka’s system will amplify his game, and why Sengun’s absence from the list might just fuel the Rockets’ underdog fire.
Oct 6, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) warms up before the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
When Alperen Sengun dismissed player rankings at the start of camp, his confidence spoke volumes about Houston’s revamped roster. Coming off a 2024-25 season where he averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists on 53.7% shooting, the 23-year-old center has emerged as a cornerstone for a Rockets team that went 41-41 and nabbed a play-in spot. His Nikola Jokić-esque passing and post dominance earned him All-Star buzz, yet USA Today’s Top 25 overlooked him, a snub that sparked debate. X posts lit up, with one fan venting, “Sengun not top 25? Dude’s a walking double-double!” Another quipped, “KD at 9 is fair, but Alperen’s gonna make these lists regret it.” Sengun’s omission stings, but it’s Kevin Durant who carries Houston’s flag as the sole Rocket on the list, and for good reason.
Durant, now 37, remains a basketball unicorn. USA Today’s panel ranked him ninth, citing his 2024-25 season with the Phoenix Suns: 26.6 points (sixth in the NBA), 6.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 52.3% field-goal shooting and 41.3% from three, despite missing 20 games. His 15th All-Star nod and 16th straight season averaging 25+ points cement his elite status. “He joins a team that should highlight his silky mid-range jumper with a coach in Ime Udoka who knows how to maximize Durant’s unicorn skill set,” USA Today noted. Houston, fresh off acquiring KD in a blockbuster trade, needs his scoring punch. Under Udoka, the Rockets’ offense ranked 20th (112.8 offensive rating) last season, leaning heavily on Jalen Green (19.6 PPG) and Sengun. Durant’s arrival—his 60% true shooting over 13 seasons—promises to elevate a unit that often sputtered.
What sets Durant apart is his versatility. His “shot diet” is a throwback masterpiece, thriving in the mid-range (47.8% on 10-16 footers) while most teams chase threes (NBA teams averaged 34.8 three-point attempts per game in 2024-25). With Fred VanVleet sidelined by a season-ending ACL tear, Durant’s playmaking steps into the spotlight. He’s no stranger to creating: four seasons ago, he posted a career-high 6.4 assists per game with Brooklyn, and last year’s 4.2 assists showed he still reads double-teams like a book, finding open teammates like Amen Thompson or Jabari Smith Jr. “He makes the right reads and can get the ball to the open man,” USA Today praised. In Udoka’s system, which emphasizes pace and spacing (Houston ranked top-10 in transition points), Durant’s ability to score off screens, isolations, or catch-and-shoot (43.1% on catch-and-shoot threes) will stretch defenses thin. A practice clip on X showed KD draining a step-back midi over Dillon Brooks, prompting a fan to post, “Durant in Houston is cheat-code mode.”
Udoka’s defensive pedigree—Houston ranked sixth in defensive rating (109.2) last season—complements Durant’s offensive brilliance. At 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, KD remains a two-way force, averaging 1.2 blocks and 0.9 steals in Phoenix. His versatility to guard wings or bigs fits Udoka’s switch-heavy scheme, where Tari Eason and Brooks thrive. Pairing Durant with Sengun, whose interior scoring (14.2 points in the paint) and passing draw double-teams, creates a nightmare for opponents. Imagine Durant popping for a three off a Sengun handoff or cutting for a lob when defenses collapse. The Rockets’ young core—Green (22), Thompson (22), and Smith Jr. (22)—adds athleticism, but Durant’s veteran IQ is the glue. His 60% true shooting, unmatched for a high-volume scorer, ensures efficiency even as he approaches 38.
Still, challenges loom. Durant’s 20 missed games last season highlight durability concerns, and at 37, he’s not getting younger. Houston’s offense, even with KD, risks stalling without VanVleet’s 7.0 assists and 38.7% three-point shooting. Sengun’s snub, while motivating, underscores his defensive limitations (0.7 blocks, 114.1 defensive rating)—he’ll need to step up to justify his top-10 boasts. The West is a gauntlet, with teams like Denver (Jokić) and Oklahoma City (Gilgeous-Alexander) stacked. But Durant’s track record—two Finals MVPs, four scoring titles—and Udoka’s trust (he coached KD in Brooklyn) signal a perfect marriage. Your love for the road’s calculated risks, where every mile demands focus, mirrors Durant’s mission: carry Houston’s offense while Sengun and the kids grow into their hype.
Kevin Durant’s No. 9 ranking in USA Today’s Top 25 is a nod to his timeless brilliance, but Alperen Sengun’s snub is a rallying cry for Houston’s young core. With KD’s scoring and playmaking igniting Udoka’s system, the Rockets are poised to climb the West, even without VanVleet. Sengun’s got a chip on his shoulder—watch him prove the doubters wrong. Rockets fans, what’s your take? Can Durant carry Houston to the playoffs? Will Sengun crash the Top 25 next year? Drop your thoughts, share with a friend, and let’s fuel the Rocket Red hype!