Houston Rockets grapple with fan criticism and upcoming season outlook

After a disappointing 2025‑26 campaign that ended with a 2‑4 first‑round loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, forward Alperen Şengün said he deleted his X (Twitter) account because the constant online criticism and rumors about internal tension were mentally draining. Şengün dismissed allegations of conflict with teammate Kevin Durant and head coach Ime Udoka, stating the toxic environment forced him to step away from the platform.

Analysts now project the Rockets will be a second‑tier Western Conference team next season, likely landing a fifth seed but capable of reaching the third or fourth. The outlook rests on the return of key pieces such as guard Fred VanVleet after his ACL injury, center Steven Adams, and veteran Marcus Smart, whose experience adds defensive versatility. Continuity of the young core is expected to be the Rockets' biggest strength as they aim to improve on last year’s performance.