Kevin Durant's historic achievement reveals nagging worry for Rockets

Kevin Durant was announced as an All-NBA Second Team selection for this season, marking his 12th overall All-NBA selection. Only 12 other players in league history have secured 12 or more All-NBA selections, which just goes to show Durant's incredible longevity and advanced age at this point in his career. Unfortunately, the Rockets' lack of other All-NBA players and need for other veterans emphasizes their reliance on older players.

The Rockets are setting themselves up for an unsustainable future

Obviously, Durant was the best player on the Rockets this season at 37 years of age. Unfortunately, it's very hard to expect consistent health over a long season from a player in their 17th season. Although Durant did a great job staying healthy during the regular season, he unfortunately suffered an injury at the worst time in the playoffs.

Durant wasn't the only key piece in Houston on the wrong side of 30 either. They suffered two other key injuries to veterans in Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams, both 32 years old, that derailed the season. Being so reliant on three aging players, with two coming off major injuries, is a formula for failure against the West's best teams.

The Thunder and Spurs are already showing elite play on both ends with stars significantly younger than Durant. Durant is bound to decline eventually, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama should still have years upon years of dominant play. Both are providing historic production at young ages, with the possibility to improve further and elevate their young teammates along the way.

Houston must search for solutions after Durant

The Rockets need to find ways of adding more star talent after Durant's eventual departure, but their avenues are limited. The Rockets aren't likely to get any high draft picks from their own play any time soon, although they do have the Suns' pick in 2027. Still, drafting a superstar game-changer will be unlikely without some great luck and scouting.

Outside of the draft, the Rockets can also find star talent through free agency or a big trade but neither are guaranteed hits. Houston has never been a hot bed for marquee free agents. And trades for stars have been extremely hit-or-miss in the modern NBA when teams have to give up huge hauls to acquire true superstar talents.

The final avenue is internal growth, which might be the Rockets' best bet. They have two promising young stars in Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun who are still developing and already providing roughly All-Star level production. Even if the Rockets never have a top-10 player in their foreseeable future, the dynamic duo of Thompson and Sengun could one day be enough to find deep playoff success.

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