Story by
Stephen A. Smith on Kevin Durant’s Rockets: ‘Instant title contenders’
- Story by
- Stephen A. Smith on Kevin Durant’s Rockets: ‘Instant title contenders’
Betting markets reacted very favorably to the Houston Rockets ' trade acquisition of All-Star forward Kevin Durant , and many big names in media have shared similarly positive reviews .
That includes ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, a longtime NBA media personality and current host of First Take.
Advertisement
On Monday, Smith said of Houston's deal with Phoenix:
The one thing we looked at with Houston in terms of what they were lacking was a No. 1 offensive option. When everything falls apart, give this person the ball and get the hell out of the way. They got it, now. His name his Kevin Durant, and he is no joke. The Houston Rockets , I'm telling you right now, they are instant title contenders.
Smith did not speak nearly as glowingly of former Rockets guard Jalen Green , who is headed to the Suns with Dillon Brooks as part of the trade.
"Had that man showed up in the postseason against the Warriors and played better, this wouldn't have happened," Smith said. "Jalen Green showed he ain't ready, and the rest of the Rockets showed they very well may be ready."
Featuring a relatively young roster, the Rockets (52-30) finished last season with the No. 2 record in the Western Conference before losing to Golden State in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. To Smith's point, the Rockets pushed the Warriors to a decisive Game 7 even with Green struggling , which represented how strong Houston was at other spots on its roster.
Advertisement
Now, with Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. replacing Green and Brooks in Houston's 2025-26 starting lineup, the Rockets are hoping to take further steps next season — and ideally into true title contention. To do so, they'll need to try and chase down the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14), who secured their first NBA championship on Sunday night .
It's a tall order, but with Durant in the fold, it's at least plausible.
More: With Kevin Durant in fold, Rockets' odds surge for 2026 NBA Finals
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Stephen A. Smith on Kevin Durant's Rockets: 'Instant title contenders'
