Kevin Durant says exactly what every Rockets fan wants to hear about his new role

As the Houston Rockets prepare for a new NBA season, their offseason acquisition of Kevin Durant, in addition to the excitement it has brought, also brings a number of questions about how the generational scorer will fit into the team's scheme.

Yet, Durant has assayed these fears with his recent commitment to playing a versatile role, and, although he will still be the team's top scorer, his willingness to play within the team's offense as a whole will be vital to their success this season.

In a recent interview, head coach Ime Udoka had this to say about Durant: "He wants to kind of be implemented into the group, and people not take a backseat to him. That's his message to a lot of the young guys. Be who you are, continue to grow in those areas, and I'll fit in where we see necessary."

As he approaches the age of 37, Durant cannot be relied upon to be the team's entire offense, and, thus, he must become exceedingly comfortable playing around and benefitting from Alperen Sengun's interior game and Amen Thompson's intense style of play.

Kevin Durant must learn to fit into the Rockets' existing scheme if this is going to work

On one hand, Durant's capability to completely transform Houston's offense means that, more than anything, the team will need to conform around him and his offensive abilities. Last season, through 62 games with the Phoenix Suns, Durant averaged 26.6 points, six rebounds and 4.2 assists, shooting 43% from beyond the arc and 52.7% from the field as a whole.

It is easy to image that, if the Rockets had the benefit of this caliber of scorer last season, they would have posted better than the 12th-best offensive rating in the league, perhaps allowing for a deeper playoff run.

However, in Durant's presence comes a notable shift. The team must figure out how to re-configure its offensive and defensive scheme around Durant's presence, and their championship hopes will depend on their ability to do so. As a superstar scorer, Durant demands and necessitates a lot of touches being funneled his way. That's the reason you bring him on the team.

Therefore, players such as Sengun and Fred VanVleet will quickly need to learn how to tailor their movements and passes to get the ball to Durant in his spots: a fact which will likely lead to a more mid-range heavy game for Houston this season.

At the same time though, Durant must learn to configure his offensive game around the existing gravity created by a dominant center like Sengun, learning to benefit off of the attention he draws on the interior and to fit into the Rockets' existing scheme as a whole.

Durant will not be the team's best defender, nor will he be taking on a heavy rebounding load, but to hear that he is willing to do what it takes to conform to the team at his age should be a highly encouraging sign for Houston fans everywhere.