Kevin Durant, one of the most iconic names in the history of the NBA and the current list of All-Stars, has set the betting world alight with a blockbuster move to the Houston Rockets.
The 36-year-old was prised away from his current team, the Phoenix Suns, in favour of a move to the Rockets, who are looking to improve on their impressive NBA run of the previous season.
Durant is the only male basketball player to hold four Olympic gold medals and is the highest-scoring player in Olympic basketball history with 518 career points. He is also 8th in the all-time NBA season points rankings with 30,571 pts and 7th in all-time playoff points with 4,985 pts.
Durant makes move to Houston
As a result of the move, the Rockets have repositioned in the NBA futures rankings across betting sites and the eyes of seasoned pundits. Reigning champions the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) are in the top spot, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers (Cavs), the Houston Rockets, and the previous season’s winners, the Denver Nuggets, which are in fourth spot.
- OKC 13/5, +260
- Cavs 17/2, +800
- Rockets 17/2, +800
- Nuggets 9/1, +900
The team most likely to retain all its key pieces, including the current MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is OKC.
The Cavs have a young, stable squad, led by Donovan Mitchell, who, on his day, can be devastating, but form has eluded him throughout his career in the big moments. This might be the year it all comes together or falls apart for Mitchell, as the squad has been tailored around him for multiple seasons.
Ime Udoka, the coach of the Rockets, is one of the most respected figures in the league, and he is known for bringing out the best in his players. Robert Williams III and Marcus Smart are two who come to mind who rallied under Udoka to reach the top of the basketball world. He also played a massive part in developing Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s games.
With the news that Clint Capela left Atlanta in favour of Houston, in addition to Durant, the team has gone from a plucky young team to a title contender in a matter of weeks. Capela can be a double-double machine, and with Steve Adams and Alperen Sengun in the mix, the Rockets will be a hard team to deal with under the rim.
My time in Phoenix has come to an end. All these stops along the journey have really impacted me in a positive way. Remeber it’s a world behind the scenes, and those who make things work in that space, work tirelessly to make our lives easier as players. I appreciate all the…
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) July 6, 2025
Durant will don the number seven jersey for Houston, which harks back to his ill-fated trade with the Brooklyn Nets. He did say, according to Dunk Central, that the decision to switch from his fabled No. 35 he wore at the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma City Thunder was down to his “favorite superstars rocked 2 numbers.” With LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Carmelo Anthony all sporting two digits in later parts of their careers.
Featured image: Olympics official.
