The Houston Rockets made it to the playoffs during the 2024-25 NBA season. Houston has a lot of young promising talent on the roster.
The Rockets were the number two seed in the Western Conference last season and lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first-round of the NBA Playoffs. They made some tweaks to the roster in the offseason by trading for Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns. Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and draft picks were traded away. Houston is ready to be a championship contender for the long haul.
Houston Rockets Have the Second-Best Young Core in the NBA Entering the 2025-2026 Season
Grant Hughes of bleacherreport.com ranked his top five his young cores in the NBA entering the 2025-26 season. He has the Rockets ranked as the second-best young core in the league. The young core of this team features Alperen Sengun (23), Amen Thompson (23), Jabari Smith Jr. (22), Tari Eason (24), and Reed Sheppard (21).
Sengun was a first-time all-star last season, and Thompson has a chance to be a first-time all-star during the 2025-26 NBA season. Hughes said,
"Sengün has already made an All-Star team and totes career averages of 16.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Though lacking the vertical lift required of traditional rim-protectors, the big man has figured out how to function in the Houston Rockets' defensive ecosystem. Houston finished fourth in defensive efficiency last year, and Sengün's presence on the floor actually improved its defensive rating by 6.6 points per 100 possessions.
Some of that owes to Sengün often sharing the floor with Thompson and Eason, a pair of legitimate terrors on D. Thompson is among the best on-ball stoppers in the league and has a sky-high ceiling. If he ever figures out how to shoot, he'll join Sengün in future All-Star games."
He believes that Thompson has a chance to be a potential superstar in the NBA. Hughes also believes that Smith is the best defender of this young core. Sheppard is going to need more play time this season.
With Fred VanVleet tearing his ACL, this could potentially open up a bigger role for him this season. He was the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft from the Kentucky Wildcats. If Sheppard can develop into another reliable scorer for this team, then it would be a big deal for them.
Houston acquired Durant because they believe this core is ready to compete for championships for the long haul. This franchise has done a tremendous job drafting young talent and developing them. The Rockets are no doubt going to be the biggest challengers to the Oklahoma City Thunder for years to come.
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