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"They were supposed to be put together for a championship" - Bosh expects more out of KD on the Rockets
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- "They were supposed to be put together for a championship" - Bosh expects more out of KD on the Rockets
The Houston Rockets are finding their groove back after a shaky start to 2026. The latest Texas showdown against the San Antonio Spurs was another welcome sign for Coach Ime Udoka and the team. Down ten points entering the fourth quarter, the Rockets managed to pull through.
It was a notable performance from Reed Sheppard , who scored 12 of his 21 points in the final 12 minutes of the game. It also marked the third consecutive win for the Rockets, who recently suffered a setback with Steven Adams ruled out indefinitely due to an ankle sprain.
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Not to mention, the Rockets are already without another veteran, Fred VanVleet , who had sustained a torn ACL ahead of the 2025-26 season. Fortunately, Coach Udoka and crew have managed to take care of business on most nights, with Kevin Durant taking charge as usual.
Heading into the Rockets-Spurs contest on NBC, the pregame show featured Chris Bosh making his debut on the panel. The Miami Heat legend, who had been in a couple of intense matchups against KD in his prime, had the following to say about the championship ceiling of Houston.
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"Well, they were supposed to be put together for a championship. Not having VanVleet kind of put them out a little bit, but they have to figure it out. I'm sure they still want to have those aspirations and goals. So I'm looking for KD to lead them," stated Bosh, who had faced Durant during the 2012 Finals when the former played for the Heat.
KD believes the Rockets still have a long way to go
Recently surpassing Dirk Nowitzki as the sixth-leading scorer in NBA history, Durant continues to perform at a high level. In his first 39 games with the Rockets, the Slim Reaper has averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists while shooting nearly 52 percent from the field.
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Even though the Rockets have been a Top 6 seed in the West for the most part, they have had their share of rough stretches. Addressing the media after the game against the Spurs, KD addressed what a win against a strong contender like San Antonio meant for Houston.
"It says a lot. I mean, we've been struggling. We don't want to beat around the bush. We've been struggling against top teams in the league, but to come out here and beat a team that's expected to be there at the end of the season, that's gonna be a championship-contending team, especially when we've been struggling a little bit. It was one of those wins, man," the four-time scoring champion told reporters on Tuesday night.
"Obviously, you don't want to get too excited in a regular season, but we don't want to undercut what we doing in a regular season either... We want to celebrate little stuff like this," added KD, who knows it's not going to be easy in the stacked Western Conference.
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Can KD get his third ring with the Rockets?
Traded to Houston last summer, Durant and the Rockets are no doubt looking to win now. Even though the veteran forward is still playing at an elite level, the window is closing. As we move into the second half of the 2025-26 season, H-Town has had a reasonably decent report card.
However, they still lack certain pieces to win a seven-game series against teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets . Another concern is the absence of veterans such as VanVleet and Adams, who bring significant experience.
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The next couple of weeks are surely going to be interesting for the league, with teams giving it their all as the road to the 2026 playoffs heats up. As far as Durant winning his third championship is concerned, the path ahead is challenging.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
