League: NBA Sport: Basketball Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Houston Rockets prepare projected 2026-27 NBA season starting lineup

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 7, 2026, 4:01 AM

Last updated Sep 7, 2026

Houston Rockets prepare projected 2026-27 NBA season starting lineup

Summary

The Houston Rockets enter the 2026-27 NBA season with a retooled roster aimed at a deep playoff run. Fred VanVleet is slated to return as the starting point guard following rehabilitation from a torn ACL. Amen Thompson occupies the shooting guard role, while Kevin Durant joins the team as the starting small forward. Jabari Smith Jr. provides defensive versatility at power forward, and Alperen Şengün returns at center following consecutive All-Star appearances. Coaching staff objectives for the upcoming season include managing the workload for the 37-year-old Durant to mitigate injury risks. The organization added depth to the bench to support this starting core as it targets improved performance in the Western Conference.

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Status Watch

•Fred VanVleet returns as the primary floor general after recovering from an ACL injury.
•Amen Thompson signed a 208 million dollar contract extension with the team.
•Kevin Durant joins the roster as the starting small forward for the upcoming campaign.
•Alperen Şengün is entering the season after two consecutive All-Star selections.
•Jabari Smith Jr. remains a key defensive piece with a 36.3 percent three-point shooting clip.

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