Kevin Durant hasn’t been in Houston long - just since July - but he’s already leaning into the city’s sports culture like a seasoned local. While his heart still beats for his hometown Washington Commanders, the NBA superstar is giving H-Town plenty to cheer about, both on the court and with his words. And right now, he’s all in on the Houston Texans.
During a recent appearance on the Up & Adams Show, Durant showed love for the Texans’ playoff push, praising their physicality and momentum during a dominant postseason performance.
“It’s been fun watching them play,” Durant said. “The city is excited around this time for playoff football, and they’re out there, defensively, just setting the tone, and people love defense.
They’re going out there, getting points on the defensive side of the ball, and the offense is out there clicking. That was a dominant playoff game.
30-6.”
That’s high praise from one of the most accomplished athletes of his generation - and it’s not just lip service. Durant’s appreciation for the Texans seems genuine, and he’s clearly been watching closely.
He singled out the defense, which has been a tone-setter all year under head coach DeMeco Ryans, and acknowledged how the unit has become a spark plug for the entire team. That blend of lockdown defense and an offense firing on all cylinders?
It’s the kind of formula that wins games in January - and maybe even February.
Durant didn’t stop at admiration. He took it a step further, offering a bold Super Bowl prediction that’s sure to light up the fan base.
“I’m gonna go Rams, Texans,” Durant said. “I wanna see CJ Stroud in a big game with that defense and DeMeco Ryans.
I wanna see that. I wanna see what Houston gonna look like when they make it to the Super Bowl.”
That’s right - Durant’s calling for Houston to make its first-ever Super Bowl appearance. And while that might sound like a stretch to some, it speaks to just how far this Texans team has come.
In 23 seasons, the franchise has never even reached the AFC Championship Game. And if you go back to the Oilers era, Houston football fans have been waiting since the late ‘70s for a shot at the big one.
Those Oilers teams, led by the legendary Earl Campbell, came close but fell short in back-to-back AFC title games in 1978 and 1979.
Now, Texans fans are hoping history doesn’t repeat itself - not with this core. CJ Stroud has been electric under center.
Will Anderson Jr. has brought relentless energy on the edge. Derek Stingley Jr. is locking down receivers.
And the rest of the roster has played with the kind of edge and chemistry that championship teams are built on.
Durant might be new to Houston, but he sees what the city sees: a team with swagger, toughness, and a real shot to make history. And if the Texans keep playing the way they have, Durant’s prediction might not be that far-fetched after all.