Charles Barkley can't hide his excitement for the Rockets this season

The Houston Rockets have garnered universal praise for their offseason. An NBA legend who once played for the team is joining that chorus. Charles Barkley thinks the Rockets are the second-best team in the Western Conference heading into 2025-26.

"If you had to rank 'em in order, I'd go OKC, Rockets, Denver."

- Charles Barkley on The Bill Simmons Podcast

This is serendipitous. SpaceCityScoop just published a piece comparing the Rockets' acquisition of Durant to their acquisition of Barkley back in 1996. The hope is that history will not repeat itself.

Although it should be noted that Barkley was still a force during his debut season with the Rockets. He averaged 19.2 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. His counting stats were muted compared to previous seasons as he tried to share the low post with Hakeem Olajuwon, but Chuck could still go.

Unfortunately, he'd begin to suffer age-related decline shortly after. The Rockets did not acquire Durant to give them one strong season of play:

Luckily, this situation is different.

Rockets won't regret trading for Kevin Durant

Firstly, it should be noted that Barkley is strictly discussing the upcoming season. From that perspective, the Rockets would live with a similarly slight dip in his basic counting stats.

That said, Barkley and Durant are vastly different players. The nicknames tell the story:

Barkley was referred to as The Round Mound of Rebound, which is a far cry from The Slim Reaper.

Durant's slight frame ought to help him age gracefully. His game is predicated on skill. As talented as Barkley was, he leaned into brute force that required a physique that proved problematic as he got older.

Granted, Durant is 36, and he'll be 37 before he plays one game in Rockets red. Father Time is undefeated. He will eventually decline:

In the interest of avoiding depression, let's circle back to the present.

Rockets and Kevin Durant are preparing for a big season

The Rockets have a legitimate chance to win the NBA title in 2025-26.

That's what Barkley is excited about. The notion that Houston is the second-best team in the West - and really, the NBA - is uncontroversial. If it's not the Rockets, it's the Nuggets.

The Thunder remain a formidable foe. Fans can't expect their general manager to build the undisputed best team in the NBA. Building a team with a strong case for next-best puts you in the mix. Barkley is right to be excited:

This should be a big season for his former squad.