NBA Power Rankings: Rockets rank shockingly high on latest list

The Houston Rockets should compete for the NBA title in the 2025-26 season. According to NBC Sports, they're the second-best team in the league. They've ranked the Rockets second in their latest power rankings.

That's a bold proclamation. It could be perceived as overly optimistic from a Rockets fan. The team ought to be scary, but the second-best team in the NBA?

Why not?

Rockets stack up against anyone in the league

The logic is simple. The Rockets won 52 games in the previous season. They replaced Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks with Kevin Durant and Dorian Finney-Smith. That should be good for 5 to 10 extra wins. A 60-ish win team ought to be the second-best team in the NBA.

Moreover, the Rockets still roster five players under 25. They can project improvement for most of them. Internal development could be almost as significant as those external additions.

Can Alperen Sengun marry his newfound defensive impact with his prior offensive efficiency? Can Amen Thompson figure out how to score in the halfcourt consistently? Can Jabari Smith Jr. hit a career high in three-point accuracy? Can Tari Eason stay healthy? Can Reed Sheppard keep himself on the floor?

That's all five for those who weren't counting.

If the answer to even two of those questions is yes, this should be a reasonable ranking for Houston. They're highly unlikely to usurp the Thunder, but otherwise, they have a chance to be the league's second-best team.

Who is their competition?

Rockets face stiff competition

Above all else, the Nuggets.

Denver has had a banner summer of their own. Flipping Michael Porter Jr. and a first-round pick for Cameron Johnson was a stroke of genius. Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. have been meaningful additions as well. This team is poised to give the Rockets a run for their money.

The Clippers have been active. Norman Powell is out. Bradley Beal, John Collins, and Brook Lopez are in. That feels like a moderate upgrade on paper, but the Rockets are still ahead.

The Cavaliers were fantastic last year. We'll see if they can repeat that performance. They're a threat as well.

The Lakers could be formidable if LeBron James and Luka Doncic can synchronize. If they send James to the Mavericks, well, look out for the Mavericks. The Warriors still exist.

There's also a possibility that a team nobody is looking at yet will break through. The Rockets weren't supposed to win 52 games last year. If another squad takes an unexpected leap, they could challenge Houston as well.

Broadly speaking, the Thunder are the unequivocal best team in the NBA. The next spot is up for grabs, but saying the Rockets claim it on paper is reasonable. Fans of the team should take a moment to appreciate how far this squad has come:

They could win it all in 2025-26.