Houston Rockets Starting Lineup Looks Scary With Kevin Durant
Houston Rockets Starting Lineup Looks Scary With Kevin Durant originally appeared on Fadeaway World.
The Houston Rockets just went from promising to downright terrifying. With the acquisition of two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant, the Rockets have put the entire league on notice. The deal, sending Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft, and five second-rounders to Phoenix, was steep.
Advertisement
But what Houston gets in return is a proven, battle-tested superstar who immediately transforms their lineup into one of the most dangerous in the Western Conference.
Here's what their projected starting five looks like heading into the 2025-26 season:
PG: Fred VanVleet
SG: Amen Thompson
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Jabari Smith Jr.
C: Alperen Sengun
This lineup isn't just balanced—it's big, versatile, defensively sound, and oozes offensive firepower.
The Rockets finished with a 52-30 record last season and were the No. 2 seed in the West, pushing the Warriors to seven games before falling in the first round. Now, with Durant in the mix, Houston isn't just hoping for a playoff run; they're eyeing a title.
Advertisement
Let's break it down.
Fred VanVleet, the floor general, will continue to run the show. He averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists last season. While his shooting percentages (37.8% FG, 34.5% 3PT) weren't elite, VanVleet proved his worth in the playoffs with veteran composure and clutch shot-making.
The Rockets hold a $44.8 million team option on his contract, and current reports indicate they plan to either pick it up or negotiate a longer deal with a reduced cap hit. Either way, VanVleet is expected to remain the steady hand at point.
Amen Thompson moves into a full-time starting role at shooting guard after Green's departure. The 6-foot-7 sophomore was a revelation last season, averaging 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting an impressive 55.7% from the field. His defense is already elite, and with Durant drawing defensive attention, Thompson could explode as a secondary slasher and transition weapon.
Advertisement
Kevin Durant slots in at his natural small forward position. Even at 36, he's still one of the most efficient and feared scorers in the NBA. Last season with Phoenix, he put up 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on 52.7% shooting from the field and a ridiculous 43% from beyond the arc.
The Rockets lacked a go-to scorer late in games during their playoff series against Golden State. Durant is that closer and then some.
Jabari Smith Jr. gets a well-earned promotion. The former No. 3 pick will take over the starting power forward spot after a strong campaign in which he averaged 12.2 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 43.8% from the field and 35.4% from deep.
Smith's ability to stretch the floor and guard multiple positions will complement Durant perfectly and give Houston an extremely switchable frontcourt.
Advertisement
Alperen Sengun, the All-Star center and emotional heart of the team, remains a focal point. Sengun averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists while shooting 49.6% from the floor.
With Durant attracting more defensive pressure, Sengun will enjoy even more room to operate in the post. His playmaking from the elbow and top of the key should unlock a dynamic two-man game with KD that will be nearly impossible to stop.
The Rockets' bench is still loaded. They kept Steven Adams, Reed Sheppard, Jock Landale, Aaron Holiday, Tari Eason, and Cam Whitmore, offering both veteran grit and youthful upside.
Eason and Whitmore, in particular, are athletic wings who can help sustain the pace when the starters rest. Head coach Ime Udoka, who recently signed an extension, now has one of the deepest and most flexible rosters in the league.
Advertisement
This is more than a superteam on paper. It's a roster built for May and June—durable, hungry, and balanced. Durant brings not only a championship pedigree but also a mentality shift. This team no longer needs to 'wait its turn.' With KD, the Rockets are here, and the West should be very, very afraid.
Related: Grade The Trade: Who Won The Blockbuster Kevin Durant To Rockets Deal?
This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Streamers Cash Nasty And Tylil Brought To Tears After Meeting LeBron James Thanks To Kai Cenat
Streamers Cash Nasty And Tylil Brought To Tears After Meeting LeBron James Thanks To Kai Cenat originally appeared on Fadeaway World. In one of the most wholesome moments the streaming world has seen in 2025, streamers CashNasty and Tylil were brought to tears after meeting their childhood idol, LeBron James, a dream made possible by none other than Kai Cenat. The emotional meeting took place just before Fanatics Fest 2025, where LeBron was scheduled to appear alongside other sports icons like Tom Brady, Victor Wembanyama, and Maverick Carter. The NBA legend was also slated to make a surprise appearance on Kai Cenat's Twitch stream, an announcement that had already sent fans into a frenzy. But what followed before the cameras even rolled would end up being one of the most memorable moments of the event. Kai Cenat, known for hosting massive names on his stream from Kevin Hart to John Cena was already mingling behind the scenes when he, CashNasty, and Tylil spotted LeBron James from a distance. Standing beside him was his mother, Gloria James, and longtime agent Rich Paul, who had previously appeared on Kai's stream. That's when Kai and his fellow streamers decided to shoot their shot. Kai Cenat talked to Rich Paul and asked if they could meet LeBron personally. Without hesitation, Rich gave them the green light and led them straight to the King himself. First, Kai was introduced, and soon after, he brought forward his visibly starstruck friends, CashNasty and Tylil, to meet LeBron. For the two streamers, who have been lifelong fans of James, the moment was surreal. They were ecstatic, shaking hands, hugging, and dapping up the four-time NBA champion. They chatted with him, laughed, and even managed to get autographs something both of them said they would treasure forever. After the emotional high of the encounter, the trio made their way backstage. That's when it hit. Both Cash and Tylil were overwhelmed with emotion, breaking down into tears. For two fans who had grown up watching LeBron dominate the league and change the game, finally meeting him in person and having a genuine interaction was a full-circle moment. And they had Kai Cenat to thank. The moment quickly began circulating across social media, with fans praising Kai for not only making the dream happen but also for handling it with sincerity and class. It showed another side to the streaming world, one of real, raw emotion and shared joy. With over 18 million Twitch followers and counting, Kai Cenat continues to redefine the possibilities of content creation. And by helping two of his fellow streamers meet their hero, he reminded the world what fanhood and friendship are all story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NBA Finals Game 7: LeBron James, others react after Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton's early Achilles injury
Tyrese Haliburton's right leg gave out just minutes into Game 7 on Sunday night, and he had to be helped off the floor. () The NBA world was thrilled to get a rare Game 7 in the NBA Finals. But just minutes into that contest between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night, everything shifted. Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton went crashing down to the court during the first quarter, appearing to re-injure his strained right calf during a non-contact moment. He immediately started pounding the floor at the Paycom Center, too, and was extremely emotional as play went the other way. The Pacers quickly ruled him out just a few minutes later with what they called a right "lower leg injury." Further specifics are not known, though Haliburton's father confirmed to ESPN that it is an Achilles injury. Advertisement Almost immediately, players from across the league chimed in on social media. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James shared what most of basketball fans were feeling in a very not-safe-for-work way. He was far from alone. Even Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes chimed in. Haliburton first went down with the calf injury during Game 5 of the series, though he returned to the court for the Pacers' Game 6 win on Thursday. He had 14 points and five assists in that 108-91 win, which forced Sunday's Game 7. Haliburton was off to a great start on Sunday night, too. He had nine points and went 3-of-4 from the 3-point line before he went down to keep the Pacers in the mix early. Advertisement The Pacers are playing in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. The franchise, though they have three ABA titles from before the merger, has never won a league title. While Haliburton's injury doesn't end that quest completely, it does make it that much harder. This post will be updated with more information.
Associated Press
35 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Nneka Ogwumike scores 26, Skylar Diggins adds 20 to help Storm beat Liberty 89-79
SEATTLE (AP) — Nneka Ogwumike scored 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting, Skylar Diggins added 20 points and the Seattle Storm beat the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty 89-79 on Sunday. Seattle (9-5) has won three games in a row and six of seven. New York (10-3) has lost back-to-back road games and three of four overall. The Liberty committed a season-high 21 turnover, which Seattle converted into 22 points. Gabby Williams had 12 points, a career-high 10 assists, six rebounds and four steals. Williams had her first career double-double last time out in a 90-83 win over Las Vegas on Friday. Williams nearly had the ball stripped but secured it and nearly threw it away but Ogwumike made a finger-tip catch and hit a 3 just before the shot clock expired to give Seattle an 85-79 lead with 1:30 left in the game. Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 18 points. Ogwumike grabbed seven rebounds and moved past Tina Thompson (3,070) into ninth in WNBA history with 3,077 career rebounds. Sabrina Ionescu (neck), Jonquel Jones (ankle) and Leonie Fiebich (overseas) did not play for the Liberty. Rebekah Gardner and Marine Johannes made their first starts of the season for the short-handed Liberty. Johannes hit two 3s and scored 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting in the first half and finished with 17 points. Up next The Storm play the second of three consecutive home games Tuesday against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. The Liberty play at Golden State on Wednesday. ___ AP WNBA:
