The Houston Rockets’ Projected Starting Lineup

The expectations are very high for the Houston Rockets' upcoming 2026-27 NBA season. This offseason, Houston has added valuable and reliable depth to the roster, providing a strong support system to the starting line up.

Fred VanVleet is returning from a torn ACL, and is expected to be the starting point guard and primary floor general. His ACL tear was very severe, but he has been rehabbing well and has reported on his podcast that he is more motivated to return than ever before.VanVleet is a veteran leader to this Houston team and provides high-IQ basketball on both ends of the floor.

He consistently has a very high assist-to-turnover ratio: he finished 4th overall in the entire NBA with a 4.76 ratio in the 2024-25 season, and had a 3.73 ratio in the following season. His impressive assist-to-turnover ratio displays not only his IQ but also his elite situational control.

The starting shooting guard will be Houston's only untouchable: Amen Thompson. The young 23-year-old just signed a massive $208 million contract.Thompson is an elite, versatile defender and a dominant presence inside the perimeter. If Houston's new assistant coach Chip Engelland can improve his perimeter shooting, he can be truly elite on both ends of the floor.

Kevin Durant will be the starting small forward. Having won two championship rings and one regular-season MVP, he is one of the best players in the NBA and is an all-time great of the sport. However, he is now 37 years old, and nearing the end of his career. If he wants another ring, and he does, he will have to win it soon.

Durant was overworked last season, and it caused him to suffer injuries and miss important games in the playoffs. Houston's coaching staff will have to learn from that, and not rely on him as heavily.

At the power forward position, Jabari Smith Jr. will be another strong and versatile defender who can defend multiple positions due to his size and speed. On offense, he has become a reliable catch-and-shoot player.

Thanks to his large size, defenders struggle to influence his shot, which has allowed him to hit 36.3 % of his three-point attempts. When his shot is falling, the opposing big men are forced to move out of the paint, creating valuable space and driving lanes for Houston to take advantage of.

Alperen Şengün will be the starting center. He has now made consecutive All-star appearances, which is extremely impressive for his age (24). Şengün is a focal point of the team's interior offense, as proven by his high average of 6.2 assists per game, which ranks second among centers across the NBA.

The Houston Rockets have an extremely versatile and strong line-up. Because of this, the team's expectations are very high. What is stopping this team from making a deep run in the playoffs?