With preseason now under a month away, the Rockets’ training camp picture is starting to come into focus, and the roster has a very different look than the young Houston groups of a few years ago. This version brings together a veteran championship core and a batch of developing players, giving Ime Udoka a lot of options and a few tough decisions.
Using the Sports Illustrated Rockets roster and depth chart as the guide, Houston’s camp group can be broken into three buckets: starters, rotation players, and the end of the bench or G League types.
The headliners are obvious. Kevin Durant is still the biggest name in the building and, at 37, remains Houston’s go-to scorer and late-game answer. The Rockets will lean on his shooting, his experience, and his ability to steady things when possessions get tight.
Alperen Şengün is right there with him as one of the team’s most important pieces. Heading into his fifth NBA season, Şengün’s passing and creativity from the center spot continue to give Houston a different kind of half-court threat.
Amen Thompson is the young player who may matter most. He put up 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 steals last season, and Houston backed that leap with a five-year, $208 million extension.
Jabari Smith Jr. gives the Rockets frontcourt size and shooting, and his ability to fit next to both Durant and Şengün makes him especially valuable. Fred VanVleet rounds out the expected starting group, bringing veteran stability at point guard after injuries interrupted his 2025-26 season.
Behind that top group, Houston has a bench with real intrigue. Marcus Smart is one of the most interesting additions because he reunites with head coach Ime Udoka and adds a rugged perimeter defender with playoff experience.
Bogdan Bogdanović, a newly acquired free agent, brings another veteran shooting threat and playmaking presence. He could end up being especially useful when the Rockets need more spacing around Durant and Şengün.
Reed Sheppard is set up as one of camp’s biggest development stories. Entering his third NBA season, his shooting and playmaking could give Houston another backcourt option, and his production and role are expected to be one of the season’s key storylines since he is extension-eligible next summer.
Steven Adams gives the Rockets another center in the double-big mix, and after his season ended early, he is expected to make an impact.
There are also younger players fighting to break through. Bruce Thornton, an Ohio State freshman guard and summer league standout, will get a chance to push for minutes and maybe carve out a longer-term role. Julian Phillips, a 6-foot-6 swingman, adds size and athleticism on the wing and is another name trying to win a spot.
Then there’s the deeper group: Quadir Copeland, Isaiah Crawford, Oscar Thswibwe, Rafael Castro, and Sean Pedulla. They’ll be part of the camp mix, but they’ll have to battle for any real NBA minutes. Clint Capela also gives Houston extra center depth, though he is not expected to play much.
What stands out most about this roster is the flexibility. Houston can go big with Şengün, Smith, and Durant, or it can play smaller and more athletic with Thompson and Eason. And unlike some of the Rockets teams from earlier in this rebuild, this group comes with much more veteran experience.
The question isn’t whether the Rockets have enough talent. It’s how Udoka pieces it all together. If Durant keeps scoring at a high level, Şengün keeps advancing, and Thompson takes another step, Houston has the kind of roster that can hang near the top of the Western Conference.
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The catch is the same one that will keep following him until it changes, and it matters because his ceiling in Houston depends on it. Thompsons offensive game still has to prove it can stretch beyond the paint and the open floor, with his perimeter shooting lagging well behind the rest of his skill set. For a player who already looks like a cornerstone in so many ways, the next step is finding a way to make opponents pay when they dare him to beat them from deep. [Read more 🡒]