Kevin Durant instantly makes the Rockets a serious title threat

Kevin Durant isn't just a big-name addition to a Houston Rockets side that won 52 games with one of the youngest cores in the NBA. By that same measure, Houston is in no way replicating the formula that failed the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns when they acquired Durant.

What the Rockets have done by acquiring Durant is make a sincere leap from knocking on the door to emerging as genuine championship contenders in 2025-26.

A case could be made that Houston didn't need much to make that type of statement. It's coming off of a season in which it went 52-30 and ranked No. 5 in defensive rating, No. 7 in net rating, and No. 12 in offensive rating.

Each of those numbers imply that the Rockets are already on the cusp of contending, as is the fact that they lost to the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of a thrilling first-round series.

The difference between Houston and the true contenders, however, was unavoidable. While the Rockets had no shortage of talent, they lacked a reliable go-to scoring option late in games and ranked No. 21 in three-point field goal percentage.

By acquiring Durant, the Rockets not only found a player who can address those flaws, but brought in one of the best possible options to seamlessly fit in alongside the current core.

Kevin Durant is exactly what the Rockets were missing in 2024-25

Houston finished the 2024-25 regular season ranked No. 21 in points and No. 23 in points per 100 possessions during the fourth quarter. It was also No. 27 in field goal percentage and No. 26 in three-point field goal percentage during the final frame of regulation.

That ultimately resulted in Houston ranking No. 19 in net rating during the fourth quarter—an epitomization of how much better the 52-win Rockets would've been with an elite closer.

Durant, meanwhile, is a former MVP, two-time Finals MVP, two-time NBA champion, and four-time scoring champion. He'll be 37 at the start of the 2025-26 season, but talent and production are by no means issues on his side of the conversation.

In 2024-25, Durant averaged 26.6 points and 2.6 three-point field goals made on .527/.430/.839 shooting—contributing to an elite eFG% of .598.

Furthermore, Durant ranked No. 9 in the NBA in points per fourth quarter at 6.7 on .550/.519/.788 shooting. It's an expected number when one considers his reputation as one of the most dangerous late-game scoring threats in NBA history.

It's also the epitome of why the Rockets must be viewed as true contenders: Not only have they found their go-to scorer, but they've brought in one of the greatest scorers to ever live.

Durant should fit seamlessly within the structure of the offense as an unselfish player who can operate without the ball and take over when need be. He should also excel in a defensive-minded culture as a player whose effort has rarely been questioned.

Houston is by no means the only team to make roster improvements during the 2025 offseason, but acquiring Durant has made it a true contender by addressing a glaring flaw with an elite option.