Kevin Durant’s place among the NBA’s elite still looks secure, even with reports that the trade market hasn’t exactly been buzzing around him.
The Houston Rockets forward was ranked No. 5 on HoopsHype’s list of the top 27 small forwards heading into the 2026-2027 season. That puts Durant behind only Jalen Williams, Jaylen Brown, Cooper Flagg, and Jayson Tatum, making him the oldest player in the top five.
HoopsHype described Durant this way: “A freakish talent standing 7-feet tall with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, Durant has legitimate high-level guard skills as a shooter and ball-handler the likes of which we have never seen out of a player with his size and frame. The Slim Reaper is set to pass Kobe Bryant on the all-time scoring list this season, barring unforeseen health problems…. Durant remains the cream of the crop for NBA scorers today, and we expect that not to change one iota in 2026-27.”
That kind of praise tracks with what Durant did last season. He averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists across 78 games, and his 4th-most total points in the league trailed only Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Brown. He also finished 10th in Clutch Player of the Year voting, another marker of how much he still drives offense.
The one thing that hasn’t followed Durant lately is deep postseason success. The 16-time All-Star has not reached a conference finals since 2019, even while continuing to score at a star level.
Houston, though, has reasons to feel optimistic about what comes next. Durant is joining a group that includes Alperen Sengun, who just earned his second straight All-Star nod, and Amen Thompson, who finished in the top 10 in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Fred VanVleet is also expected back after a season-ending injury, and Jabari Smith Jr. has provided steady play as the starting power forward.
With that mix in place, the Rockets have the look of a team that can chase another 50-plus-win season.
There is still a layer of uncertainty around Durant’s future, though. His player option for the 2027-2028 season could become a real issue for Houston if the front office does not move him before February, since he could reach free agency without the Rockets getting anything back.
For now, the bigger picture is straightforward: Durant is still being viewed as one of the best small forwards in the game, and Houston’s championship window is open heading into the season.
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Kevin Durant Faces One Pressure That Could Define Houston's Season
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The rest of the setup matters just as much. Houston expects veteran help around Durant and needs its young core to keep growing so the team can stay in the mix for one of the Wests top spots. But the real test will come late, when possessions tighten and the Rockets need someone who can settle games down, take the biggest shots and still be standing when the playoffs begin. [Read more 🡒]