Houston Rockets aim for deeper playoff run following media day

During the Houston Rockets' media day, head coach Ime Udoka and star player Kevin Durant addressed the team's goals for the upcoming season following a 52-win campaign that ended in a first-round playoff exit. Udoka expressed dissatisfaction with last season's results, stating, “We're not here to just make the first round. We want to make some real noise.”

A central point of discussion was Durant's workload. Following a season where he played 78 games and averaged 36.4 minutes, the organization reportedly aims to manage his minutes to ensure health for the playoffs. Durant pushed back against a purely age-based reduction, asserting, “I’m better on the court. The team is better when I’m on the court.” He noted he is willing to sit if the team has a significant lead, but rejects reducing minutes solely due to his age.

The Rockets are also looking forward to the return of veterans Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams, both of whom missed significant time due to injuries last season. The roster has been bolstered by the additions of Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic to provide greater depth. Durant, now 37, emphasized that he is taking his career “a day at a time” and is not currently considering retirement.