As a two-time NBA champion, with two Finals MVP awards to his name, Kevin Durant has a keen understanding of what it takes to win the title. During the Houston Rockets‘ media day, the superstar was asked to discuss what makes a true contender and whether the Rockets fit the mold. He responded:
“I never talk about championships on any team I’ve been on. You just put your head down and work every single day. The formula, I felt, over the last few years in the league, is to have size. To have guys that can penetrate, guys that can create extra possessions for you, guys that can switch and guard multiple positions, length, athleticism, discipline, effort every single night from a scheme perspective, and camaraderie, continuity… All of that stuff matters. That’s the type of stuff that usually has been successful the last couple of years, from my observation.”
Durant continued by turning his attention toward how the Rockets’ current roster aligns with this formula, “I feel like we’ve got bits and pieces of all of those attributes on our team now. It’s all about how we cook it all up and bring them together and form who we want to be and our identity as we go forward. And that may take time. Who knows how long it would take? But actually putting in the work and figuring it out is the fun part.”
Kevin Durant paints a fairly clear picture of what a title-contending roster looks like. From players with size to players who will do the heavy lifting and the grunt work, personalities who are willing to play their part and fulfill their role are what make up the essence of a championship squad.
When examining the roster of the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, this becomes even more evident.
The Thunder are led by a generational talent in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The star is supported by an incredibly gifted two-way player in Jalen Williams and a stellar big man in Chet Holmgren. While this forms OKC’s core, the team features several key role players such as Lu Dort, Alex Caruso, and Isaiah Hartenstein, each bringing a particular skill that contributes to winning.
The league has seemingly moved away from the era of the superteam, instead shifting toward roster depth and highlighting the importance of role players.
In this regard, Kevin Durant finds himself in an extremely favorable position with the Houston Rockets. Although his arrival was marked by the departure of key rotational players, it also acted as the catalyst for Houston’s impressive summer of free agent signings.
With Durant on board, several talented free agents gravitated to Houston. The addition of players like Clint Capela, Josh Okogie, and Dorian Finney-Smith only added to the Rockets’ pre-existing roster strength. With depth in virtually every position and talented players across the board, Houston’s current roster undoubtedly aligns with Kevin Durant’s formula for success.
Durant seems to have bought into Houston’s project, as he is prepared to be a part of this unit for the long haul. However, the upcoming season will be anything but easy for the Rockets. With several teams emerging as contenders in the West, Houston has a long and challenging campaign ahead.
