{"id":159626,"date":"2025-09-20T10:24:50","date_gmt":"2025-09-20T14:24:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=159626"},"modified":"2025-09-20T10:24:50","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T14:24:50","slug":"2025-26-houston-rockets-predictions-an-all-star-snub","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/20\/2025-26-houston-rockets-predictions-an-all-star-snub\/","title":{"rendered":"2025-26 Houston Rockets Predictions: An All-Star Snub"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Houston Rockets look set for a big 2025-26 season<\/a>, which will start Oct. 21 when they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder, newcomer Kevin Durant<\/a>‘s former team and the reigning NBA champions.<\/p>\n

In late August, ESPN projected the Rockets to win 54 games<\/a>. That’s just two more victories than they secured in 2024-25 but would still leave them second in the Western Conference standings, just as they were last season. With that team success will come individual recognition. However, there will also be the expectation<\/em> of recognition.<\/p>\n

Enter the ‘All-Star snub’ phenomenon.<\/p>\n

2025-26 Houston Rockets Predictions: Amen Thompson An All-Star Snub<\/h2>\n

Barring a calamitous season, the Rockets will definitely be represented at the 2026 All-Star Game (which will have a new look<\/a>). Nevertheless, there will probably be a Rockets player left watching the All-Star Game from home or the sidelines, with he or the fans believing he should be on the court.<\/p>\n

Durant is a lock to get in as a starter every year. Even if his regular-season production dips, the fan vote will easily carry him alone as All-Star voting is partially a popularity contest<\/a>. After his Euro-thrashing offseason campaign<\/a>, evolving big man Alperen Sengun<\/a> looks set for his best season yet. With that in mind, Sengun earned his first All-Star selection in 2024-25.<\/p>\n

Houston’s Huge Hurdle<\/h3>\n

All in all, Durant and Sengun are all but All-Star shoo-ins.<\/p>\n

However, the Rockets may have something of a Big Three blasting off in Space City. Unfortunately for them, playing well enough to warrant three All-Star spots is an awfully big hurdle. Even the 68-win Oklahoma City Thunder only got two All-Star spots for their efforts last season, though Chet Holmgren<\/a>‘s early season-injury was undoubtedly a major factor.<\/p>\n

In that context, the chances of the Rockets fielding three All-Stars are pretty slim.<\/p>\n

That third player being lean, mean defensive machine Amen Thompson<\/a> is comparatively chunky. Last season, Thompson averaged 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game. Those are tantalizing numbers for a second-year player who came off the bench to start the season.<\/p>\n