Among players who will play in the 2025-26 season, both Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun both received top-40 spots in NBA 2K’s latest player rankings.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the team to beat in the NBA currently, and will defend their 2024-25 title this season in a stacked Western Conference. Winning 68 games last season, they return nearly their entire roster, as well as adding two pieces in their 2024 draft pick Nikola Topic and 2025 pick Thomas Sorber.

But just weeks later, the Rockets rocked the NBA by landing future Hall of Fame forward Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns. They also added veteran 3-and-D forward Dorian Finney-Smith and veteran center Clint Capela, and many feel they have a real shot at winning it all.

In HoopsHype’s month-by-month breakdown of each NBA team’s 2025-26 schedule, only Houston’s October and February opponents grade out as above average.

The Houston Rockets have become accustomed to getting better each year. The team underwent a rebuild in the last half-decade — adding players like now-Phoenix S

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors gave a brief but brutal response to Alperen Sengun of the Houston Rockets after his criticism.

For a second time this summer, the Rockets hired a business executive from the Timberwolves. This time, it’s Laura Meyer as senior vice president.

Rafael Stone has worked tirelessly to improve the Houston Rockets' reputation around the league. The previous administration ran by Daryl Morey left players fee