The Athletic NBA Daily: Does Kevin Durant Make the Rockets Contenders?

Date: October 13, 2025
Hosts: The Athletic NBA Daily Team
Guest: Will Guillory (The Athletic NBA Writer)

Episode Overview

This energetic and insightful episode delves into the Houston Rockets' dramatic offseason move to acquire Kevin Durant and the resulting impact on their standing as Western Conference contenders. Host Dave DuFour and Will Guillory break down how Durant's arrival transforms the team's expectations, the dynamism among their young core, the challenges posed by Fred VanVleet's injury, and how Houston might maneuver at the trade deadline—all while painting a vivid picture of how this new-look Rockets squad could shake up the playoff landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Durant Trade: Raising the Bar in Houston

[02:24]

• The hosts agree: Acquiring Kevin Durant is a seismic change for the Rockets, immediately shifting their internal expectations from “fun up-and-comers” to true championship chasers.
• Will Guillory:

  "It's no longer about seeing the young guys and Ime Udoka, the scrappy Rockets—they want to win a championship... It's about winning championships again in Houston." (03:09)

• The mentorship factor is huge: Young core players like Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason have idolized Durant and will benefit from his daily presence.

2. Impact of Fred VanVleet's Season-Ending Injury

[04:14]

• VanVleet, expected to be a stabilizing veteran at the point, tore his ACL, dramatically shifting ball-handling and leadership responsibilities.
• The two names to watch:
  • Amen Thompson: Lauded for his defense, now expected to assume considerable playmaking duties and possibly become the full-time starter at point guard.
  • Reed Sheppard: The recent #3 overall pick, who saw minimal action last year, must quickly acclimate to significant NBA minutes and pressure.
• Will Guillory candidly outlines the urgency:

  "When you got a 37-year-old guy leading your team, you don't really have time to worry about what next year is going to look like. You got to get it done right now." (05:54)

3. Alperen Şengün’s Imminent Leap

[08:40]

• Şengün is primed for a breakout, drawing “baby Jokic” comparisons with amplified playmaking responsibilities.
• He and Durant showed instant chemistry in preseason, notably with inverted pick-and-roll actions and dribble handoff sets that leverage each player’s unique skill set.
• Guillory’s strong prediction:

  "I am all in on the Alperen Şengün jump this year. I think that guy has stardom in his future." (08:40)
  "I think KD's never really played with a big man who can pass like Şengün." (09:55)

4. The Growth Mandate for Jabari Smith Jr.

[11:42]

• Smith just signed a five-year, $122 million extension. There’s debate on whether this is an overpay, but the hosts align on his essential value for Houston’s frontcourt flexibility and potential.
• Guillory’s advice:

  "What Jabari can't do this year is just run down and sit in the corner for the whole game... He's got to learn how to get involved, get active and pick his spots and be efficient about it." (12:54)

• Smith’s ability to operate without the ball and capitalize on mismatches will be a barometer for the team’s offensive ceiling.

5. Stylistic Shifts: “The League’s Biggest Team”

[15:14]

• Houston intends to be the NBA's biggest team, with frequent jumbo lineups featuring Şengün, Smith, Durant, Dorian Finney-Smith, Steven Adams, Clint Capela, and TyTy Eason.
• Defensive focus: tons of zone defense, maximizing length, and covering ground to stifle opponents.
• Key tension: balancing this size with enough ball-handling and shot creation to relieve Durant, especially with his age and the grind of a full season.
• Guillory:

  "They want to have all of these big wings out there, but you also want to have enough shot creation out there where you don't put that completely on KD's shoulders and overtax him before you get to the playoffs." (16:44)

Trade Deadline Scenarios and Future Moves

1. Point Guard Market: Targeting Derrick White

[22:10]

• The host suggests Derrick White (Celtics) as the perfect fit: a defensive ace with playoff savvy, familiar with Ime Udoka, and not ball-dominant.

  "Because of the fact that they need a point guard and because they have a lot of picks, I feel like the Rockets are the perfect destination for Derrick White." (21:00)

• Guillory co-signs:

  "I love it. I think it's an amazing fit... When you're making these trades, I think they want to find Udoka guys. Derrick White would be a perfect fit." (22:18)

• Trey Young was mentioned as a counter-example: his play style may not mesh with Houston’s Durant/Şengün-oriented offense.

2. Youth Movement vs. Aggression

[23:39]

• The ideal scenario: Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard prove ready, keeping the young core together and salary commitments manageable going into future seasons.
• However—because of their contention window with Durant—if the young guards falter under playoff-level opposition, GM Rafael Stone is expected to be assertive at the deadline.

Western Conference Outlook & Rockets’ Ceiling

1. Playoff Tiers & Expectations

[25:55]

• Oklahoma City is now seen as the West’s top team, especially with Houston’s loss of VanVleet.
• Before the injury, Rockets were arguably in the second tier with Denver; now, they may fall a level lower alongside the Lakers and Clippers.
• Playoff matchup dynamics favor Houston if they get healthy and their young players rise to the challenge.
• Notable quote:

  "If they can get some of these younger guys to build up their confidence, they're going to be an extremely difficult out come playoff time. But... they've got to get enough wins during the regular season so they don't have to be that fourth, fifth, sixth seed." (26:38)

2. Who Will They Really Be?

[26:52]

• Will Guillory’s prediction:

  "I'm gonna predict second round as of right now. I'd want to say conference finals for sure with VanVleet, but I'll say second round. I just think it'd be difficult for me to pick them over Denver or OKC right now." (26:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Durant’s mentorship:

  "These are guys who grew up idolizing Kevin Durant, wanting to play like Kevin Durant their entire life, and now they get to see him on a daily basis, see how he works." —Will Guillory (03:30)

• On the VanVleet loss:

  "Losing him is a major loss. And I think anybody who tells you different is probably not being all the way truthful." —Will Guillory (07:38)

• On Şengün running the offense:

  "We always do the 'baby Jokic' thing with Şengün, but I really think we're going to see him operating a lot like Jokic does in Denver." —Will Guillory (09:12)

• On lineup size:

  "It's not hyperbolic to say I think this is going to be the biggest team in the league." —Will Guillory (15:14)

• On possible mid-season moves:

  "When you got a 37-year-old guy leading the way, it's about right now, not about what the future looks like. So they're going to want to win right now." —Will Guillory (24:06)

Summary Table – Key Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | Key Discussion | |-----------------------------------------------|-------------|----------------------------------------------------| | Durant Trade Setting New Expectations | 02:24–04:14 | Championship-or-bust mentality; mentorship impact | | Fred VanVleet Injury Fallout | 04:14–07:05 | Amen Thompson & Reed Sheppard must step up | | Alperen Şengün’s Expanded Role | 08:00–10:49 | Point-center, “baby Jokic” responsibilities | | Jabari Smith Jr.'s Growth and Extension | 11:42–14:30 | Importance of versatility, offensive opportunities | | Stylistic Identity: League’s Biggest Team | 15:14–17:39 | Jumbo lineups, defensive strategy, KD’s workload | | Trade Deadline Targets & Strategy | 20:54–23:39 | Derrick White fit, balance between youth/aggression| | Western Conference Positioning & Playoff Ceiling | 25:27–27:12 | Post-injury expectations, playoff prediction |

Takeaway

The Rockets’ transformation into contenders hinges on integrating Kevin Durant with a still-developing core, adapting to the sudden absence of Fred VanVleet, and striking the right blend of size, skill, and shot creation. While there’s noticeable excitement and optimism, the road to a deep playoff run is riddled with questions about their young guards, the health of their stars, and the moves they might have to make at the trade deadline. As Will Guillory puts it, Houston is “going to be an extremely difficult out come playoff time”—but only if they can maximize their new superstar window, trust their youth, and seamlessly blend old and new.