Are the Houston Rockets Legit Contenders With Kevin Durant?

Even at 36 years of age (37 by the start of next season), with a history of injuries plus more than a bit of wear and tear on the tires, there’s no denying Kevin Durant’s ability to fill a stat sheet. He missed the latter part of this past season (injured ankle) in what was a woeful (36-46) year in Phoenix, as the Suns did not even make the play-in portion of the NBA playoffs.
That was then, this is now. Durant is a Houston Rocket, dealt in a huge trade involving players (Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks) and picks (first-rounder in ‘25 and five second-round choices). 

That ended the saga of ‘Kevin Durant’s next team,’ which was one of the bigger storylines in the NBA. Kevin Durant stats have him ranked eighth among all-time scorers with more than 30,000 points, Durant, at 6-foot-11, has a resume which dates back to a Rookie of the Year season with the 2007-08 Seattle SuperSonics.

Then, after the Sonics became the Thunder, eight seasons in Oklahoma City, three with the Golden State Warriors with two (and parts of a third) both as a Brooklyn Net and a Phoenix Sun.

Through it all, he’s been a 15-time All-Star, chosen 11 times All-NBA, once (2013-14) MVP of the league, a two-time scoring champ and a member of the 75th anniversary team in the NBA    

He has appeared in more than 1,100 regular-season games, averaging in excess of 27 points per game (his last season’s numbers were 62 games and 26.6 points/game). 

Houston was a favored destination if Durant indeed left Phoenix, as the Space City was right around 2-1 (+200), Houston ended with a vastly-improved record 52-30 last season, but lost to the Golden State Warriors (seven games) in the first round of the playoffs. 

It’s no surprise to learn that Durant’s change of venue has already been felt on the board. While the newly-crowned champion Thunder are solid 9-4 (+225) favorites to repeat, according to those NBA championship futures odds, the second choice is now Houston at 17-2 (+850).

Further down the current numbers are the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks at 9-1 (+900), with the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves each at 14-1 (+1400).

Durant’s old team, the Suns, are a lottery-esque 250-1 (+25000) to win it all next season.

Here’s a primer on Kevin Durant as he now tries to lead the Houston Rockets to an NBA title…

Where Will Kevin Durant Play Next Season?

Deep in the heart of Texas, where Kevin Durant starred as a one-and-done freshman with the Longhorns in Austin (25.8 points per game in 2006-07). Durant is now tasked with trying to lead the Houston Rockets to what would be a third NBA title in franchise history (first since back-to-back championships in 1994-95). Durant has a pair of rings, winning them consecutively (2017-18) with the Golden State Warriors. It wasn’t surprising Durant added NBA Finals MVP honors to those titles.

Does BetUS Offer Constant Updates on NBA Game Betting Lines?

Indeed. There is wagering on individual games, as well as additional props involving teams and players. If you’re a ‘long-term’ investor, there are future wagers out there in any number of specific categories, including division, conference and Finals winners. That last wager is as popular as any involving NBA game odds.

As with other wagers, NBA championship futures odds are fluid, thus subject to change.   

Any Final Thoughts?

Anyone who pays even marginal attention to NBA news and NBA rumors is acutely aware of Kevin Durant. He’s a Hall-of-Famer in waiting who now makes the Houston Rockets big players in the race to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy in the 2025-26 season.