The Houston Rockets' recent loss to the Los Angeles Lakers (Last result: Houston Rockets 78-98 Los Angeles Lakers, 2026-05-02) has not deterred forward Kevin Durant from making bold predictions about LeBron James' next move. Durant, who has developed a close relationship with James, admitted that he is clueless about James' decision but is confident that the NBA's all-time leading scorer will continue to play at a high level.
What happened?
Durant made his comments during an interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark at the MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Clark asked Durant about James' free agency, and Durant replied, "Wherever he goes, I know he's going to ball out and show that he still got a lot left in the tank at 42 years old." Durant also praised James, saying, "Any team is going to be better because of him."
Why it matters for Houston Rockets
The Rockets, who are not considered a top contender for James, have been linked to several other free agents this offseason. However, with James still on the market, the Rockets may need to look elsewhere to bolster their roster. Durant's comments about James' ability to continue playing at a high level may be a boost to the Rockets' chances of signing the NBA legend.
What comes next?
The Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Philadelphia 76ers are reportedly the frontrunners to land James, although ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel noted that the Golden State Warriors are still actively pursuing the 22-time All-Star. James recently went on a vacation with Warriors forward Draymond Green in Puerto Rico. The Rockets were barely linked to the future Hall of Famer, as the front office has appeared to prioritize the team's young core.
The Rockets' recent form has been inconsistent, with a recent record of 3W-0D-2L (LLWWW, most recent first). They will look to turn their season around and make a push for the playoffs. With James still on the market, the Rockets may need to look elsewhere to bolster their roster.
Durant's comments about James' ability to continue playing at a high level may be a boost to the Rockets' chances of signing the NBA legend. However, with several other teams also in the running for James, the Rockets may face an uphill battle in their pursuit of the NBA legend. The Rockets will need to make a strong case for themselves if they hope to land James and improve their chances of making a deep playoff run.
The Rockets' recent loss to the Los Angeles Lakers (Last result: Houston Rockets 78-98 Los Angeles Lakers, 2026-05-02) has not deterred forward Kevin Durant from making bold predictions about LeBron James' next move. Durant, who has developed a close relationship with James, admitted that he is clueless about James' decision but is confident that the NBA's all-time leading scorer will continue to play at a high level.
