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Rockets have earned the luxury of lightening Kevin Durant’s load

Houston can afford to play Durant less this season because the whole team is thriving.
BySwoosh Shrestha
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Oct 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) on the bench during pregame warm ups prior to the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Oct 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) on the bench during pregame warm ups prior to the game against the Atlanta Hawks at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With the Rockets getting off to such a dominant start this season, they’ve even gotten the opportunity to lighten Kevin Durant’s workload. Not only is Durant able to play less minutes in blowouts, but he’s also getting easier buckets thanks to Houston’s improved playmaking this season.

Durant can finally get some of the rest he deserves 

We all know KD loves to play as much basketball as he can. If it was up to him, he might play 48 minutes every game. But the Rockets need to be cautious with how much wear they put on him during the regular season. This is Durant’s 20th NBA season after all, and he just turned 38.

Fortunately, the Rockets suddenly have a loaded roster of players excelling. They look every bit the part of title contenders right now and it should pay off in their load management. Durant won’t be the only one to benefit over the long regular season, but he is perhaps the most important as the oldest player on the team and still arguably the best.

He was remarkably durable during the regular season last season. He not only played 78 games, but also averaged 36 minutes per game - building up to the second-most minutes across the league only behind Amen Thompson. This season, that number should come naturally just because of the Rockets’ depth and their tendency to blow out more teams.

The Rockets are earning the right to sit Durant

Last season, it was hard to argue that Durant could’ve taken more rest. The offense was so reliant on his creation and tough shot making that benching him was like a death sentence. But this season, the ball is moving much better and other players are stepping up.

Alperen Sengun has looked like an All-Star so far, but he was able to sit out entirely against the Bucks on Wednesday night and still see his team win in dominant fashion. The Rockets put up 132 points without him thanks to their 27 assists and elite three-point shooting (17-of-38 as a team). 

Both Sengun and Durant should have more opportunities to rest throughout the regular season this year. Hopefully that will preserve them better for the playoffs, where Durant only managed one game last season. 

Sengun hasn’t faced injury scares so far in his career, but he’s also never won a playoff series either. The added intensity of the playoffs, along with the longer overall schedule of a deep run, could wear him down if he’s not ready. Houston’s team excellence should do a better job of making sure he’s ready though.

It’s a great sign that the Rockets have more flexibility with their stars this season. The team is clicking on all cylinders and allowing coaches to make smarter decisions for the long haul.

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