The Houston Rockets just got better.
More importantly, they did so without having to give up valuable assets.
Notably, that’s why Joy Taylor believes that they’ve become a legitimate NBA championship contender right now.
Talking on FOX’s “Speak,” the renowned pundit stated that the Rockets have a strong chance to win it all, mostly because we’ve seen the parity around the league in recent years.
.@JoyTaylorTalks: Kevin Durant makes the Rockets legit title contenders. pic.twitter.com/4rMZChD5Tz
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) June 23, 2025
No one has repeated as champions in the past seven years, and while the Oklahoma City Thunder are young and won’t be going away any time soon, we’ve seen how heavy the crown can be.
The Rockets added one of the greatest pure scorers this game has ever seen.
They essentially replaced Jalen Green, who’s streaky and inconsistent, with an efficient three-level scorer who doesn’t even need to have the ball in his hands to make an impact.
All that while also holding onto defensive stalwarts like Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr.
Alperen Sengun will most likely hold onto his similar spot, and they have more than enough defensive studs to make up for the loss of the inconsistent Dillon Brooks.
The Western Conference will be tough, but just like Taylor pointed out, the Rockets look like a better team than the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets at the very least.
Kyrie Irving won’t suit up for the Dallas Mavericks, and the Minnesota Timberwolves also have to figure out what to do with their roster.
Their championship window might be open for just one season, but that might be all they need to go the distance.
NEXT: Rockets Could Make Another Big Move After Trading For Kevin Durant
