After the June trade for Kevin Durant, the Houston Rockets suddenly hold the NBA’s brightest spotlight. Opening Night fixture, that too against Durant’s former home OKC Thunder, in October and Christmas Day against the Lakers in December now feel like destinations. Every possession, every shot, will carry the weight of belief. Yet the real question lingers. Can Ime Udoka channel this surge into something lasting, something unforgettable?

By June 2026, the Rockets may stand on the grandest stage of all. And by June 2026, they might not even be in the main picture. Houston fans aren’t so sure. Kelly Iko of The Athletic revealed striking numbers from hundreds of Rockets fans. Only 15.3% believe Houston will either reach or win the 2026 Finals. Meanwhile, 65.7% see the journey ending in the W

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