The Houston Rockets have moved fast enough that the question isn’t whether they’re on the rise anymore. It’s how far that rise can carry them by 2029.
Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes put Houston at No. 12 in his three-year franchise power ranking, a spot that places the Rockets behind the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and San Antonio Spurs. In Hughes’ view, that makes Houston the sixth-strongest team in the Western Conference over the later part of the decade.
“The Rockets are about as dangerous as a team can be without a clear ‘best on a title-winner’ player. Sengun has made back-to-back All-Star games and probably comes closest, but he needs to take another step or two before Houston will have the necessary top option to tangle with Wembanyama and SGA out west.”
That missing elite centerpiece is the key issue in Houston’s outlook. Kevin Durant was the club’s lone All-NBA Team representative, putting up 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game across 78 games. He remains one of the league’s top players, but the Rockets can’t count on knowing exactly where he’ll be three years from now.
That’s why Alperen Sengun is the name to watch. The two-time All-Star is expected to become Houston’s next franchise anchor, and his 2025-26 production backed that up: 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 72 games. At 24, he’s already one of the most unique big men in the league, thriving as a playmaker and interior force.
The next step for Sengun is the jumper. His three-point shot still needs work, but new Rockets assistant coach Chip Engelland could help refine his mechanics.
Amen Thompson gives Houston another major building block. The 23-year-old posted a new career-high in scoring and finished in the top 10 in Defensive Player of the Year voting for the second straight season.
With Durant’s future uncertain and Sengun and Thompson both taking clear steps forward, Houston’s front office has reason to stay in win-now mode. That should keep the Rockets in the playoff mix over the next three years.
A championship run is harder to map out, especially with how quickly the league can change from season to season. Still, Houston looks built to stay relevant. Even after Durant is gone, the Rockets have done enough to remain competitive for the long haul.
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