What is the Houston Rockets projected starting lineup for the 2025-2026 NBA season?

Glenn Kaplan

What is the Houston Rockets projected starting lineup for the 2025-2026 NBA season? image

Troy Taormina

The Houston Rockets finished with a 52-30 record during the 2024-2025 NBA season. Houston was the number two seed in the Western Conference before losing to the #7 Golden State Warriors in seven games in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

The Rockets will be one of the favorites to win the 2025-2026 NBA title after acquiring Kevin Durant in a trade from the Phoenix Suns in the offseason. Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green were traded from Houston to Phoenix. Houston did not have to give up a lot of young players in order to acquire Durant. What will the Rockets starting lineup look like for the 2025-2026 NBA season under head coach Ime Udoka?

USA Today Writer Predicts Houston Rockets Lineup For the 2025-2026 NBA Season

Cody Taylor of therookiewire.usatoday.com predicted the depth chart for the Rockets for the upcoming 2025-2026 NBA season. The projected starting five for Houston for the upcoming 2025-2026 season will be Alperen Sengun at center, Jabari Smith Jr. at power forward, Durant at small forward, Amen Thompson at shooting guard, and Fred VanVleet at point guard.

Sengun is one of the best centers in the NBA and Thompson is a rising star in the NBA. With this young roster, it was necessary for Houston to trade for Durant. What's good is that Durant is going to know his role on this basketball team. When the game is on the line, he is going to take the last shot for the Rockets.

Some of the key guys off the bench for the Rockets this season will be Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, and Steven Adams. Clint Capela, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Josh Okogie could also get some minutes off the bench for Houston. This team no doubt will have a chance to knock off the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference this season. The Rockets will begin the 2025 NBA season on the road against Oklahoma City on Tuesday, October 21. Houston has one of the best starting lineups in the NBA. 

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Glenn Kaplan

Glenn Kaplan is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He has experience covering the MLB, college football, college basketball, NBA, NHL and NFL, bringing a well-rounded perspective to his work. Glenn has contributed to outlets including FanSided, Wisconsin Sports Heroics, Gridiron Heroics and Pro Football Network, and began his career with Towson University’s student newspaper.