It’s now or never for Kevin Durant in Houston

The Houston Rockets had high expectations to begin last NBA season following the acquisition of Kevin Durant , until their starting point guard, Fred VanVleet , went down. That raised many questions concerning the team's functionality without a skilled guard. They still managed to win over 50 games and finish as the fifth seed in the West.

This offseason, more teams in the Western Conference have emerged as legitimate contenders, adding to an already large pool. Durant enters his second season with the team, and one that holds a lot of significance. With questions arising about team chemistry and the West growing stronger, this might be the last chance KD has to win a ring in Houston.

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at against the Los Angeles Lakers . Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Kevin Durant has been a premier talent in the league since he was drafted in 2007. The 16-time All-Star has won multiple championships and even brought home the MVP in 2015. Though he's entering his 19th season in the league, that hasn't changed with the Houston Rockets.

He was the main catalyst for the offense last season. Whether it was ball-handling or scoring, he was their guy. That proved to be an issue toward the end of the season when teams figured out that the Rockets lacked good ball-handlers outside of Durant. They can address this weakness with VanVleet returning, but how much better does he really make Houston?

A fifth seed in the Western Conference may be the ceiling for Houston. The Thunder, Spurs , Lakers and Nuggets all finished ahead of the Rockets last season, and that won't change any time soon. With the Trail Blazers and Timberwolves drastically improving their rosters, those might be two teams Houston finishes behind, leaving the Rockets with a tough decision to make in Year 2 of their Kevin Durant experiment.

Mar 8, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) looks up in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Kevin Durant's longest stint with a team, outside of the Thunder, was four seasons with the Nets . He's played with two other teams, spending 2.5 seasons with the Suns and three seasons with the Warriors . Durant has never been the player to overstay his welcome with a franchise. It shouldn't be any different with the Rockets.

During the All-Star break, the Rockets endured a huge scandal centered around Durant. Teams usually face scandals with their younger players, not their superstar. Durant was caught using a burner account again. This time, he was speaking poorly about his current teammates and their skills on the basketball court.

It was not a good look for a player who was supposed to bring veteran leadership to the team. When the camera panned to him at the All-Star Game, Durant looked anxious and guilty. As the season progressed, it looked as though he made up with those players, but that leaves a bad taste in the mouths of everyone who's a part of the franchise.