The Oklahoma City Thunder’s reign atop the NBA could be short-lived following the Houston Rockets’ trade for Kevin Durant.
Top sportsbooks have the Rockets as one of the leaders in odds to win the 2026 NBA Finals following their acquisition of the future Hall of Famer.
Key Takeaways
- The Rockets are a consensus top-four title favorite at major sportsbooks
- Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game last year
- Only the Thunder have better odds to win the Western Conference than the Rockets
The Rockets’ decision to trade for the 37-year-old superstar is a sign that they aren’t content with where they’re at.
Houston was the second seed in the Western Conference when the playoffs began just a few months ago, though they were bounced by the Golden State Warriors in the first round in seven games.
The trade for Durant – which saw Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in Wednesday’s draft, and five second-round picks head to Phoenix – caused the Rockets to surge to as high as second in odds to win the ‘26 championship.
ESPN Bet revealed that the team gained a 5.3 percent chance to win the title with their new swingman, going from +1800 to +850.
The Rockets' title odds next season got a bump after acquiring Kevin Durant 📈
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET) June 22, 2025
Could Houston make a run in 2025-26? 👀 https://t.co/ofMMeoZhUm pic.twitter.com/JgNEIxBpUm
That isn’t an outlier, either. Leading sportsbooks now have the Rockets as a top-four title contender with average odds of +838 (10.7 percent implied chance) heading into the 2025-26 NBA season.
| Sportsbook | Rockets’ Title Odds | Team Odds Rank |
|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | +750 | Second |
| BetMGM | +800 | Second |
| Fanatics | +800 | T-second |
| Caesars | +800 | Fourth |
| Hard Rock Bet | +800 | Fourth |
| ESPN Bet | +850 | Second |
| FanDuel | +900 | T-third |
| bet365 | +1000 | Fourth |
The Rockets are also the clear-cut number two in odds to win the Western Conference, trailing only the Thunder.
Sweeping changes
Betting odds released earlier in the week of the trade showed the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, and San Antonio Spurs as the top candidates alongside the Rockets to land the Durantula.
BetMGM reported movement in several of Durant’s suitors in addition to the Rockets and Phoenix Suns immediately after the trade. The Rockets fell from +1300 to +800, while the Spurs lengthened from +1800 to +2200, the Heat from +10000 to +25000, and the Suns from +20000 to +30000.
Reports have not suggested that Durant outright requested a trade from the Suns. However, Durant said at Fanatics Fest on Sunday, just minutes after news broke that he had been traded, that Suns fans “wanted me to go” and that “they got what they wanted and I got what I wanted.”
The Suns needed a change after last year’s shocking disappointment, which led to them finishing 36-46 (11th) and the dismissal of coach Mike Budenholzer.
Even in a losing season, Durant showed his value in winning games. The Suns were 3-17 with him out of the lineup and 33-29 with him on the floor.
Could Devin Booker also get traded?
The Rockets are expected to start a lineup next year that consists of Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun.
There’s still a massive domino that could potentially fall depending on what happens to Devin Booker. The 28-year-old averaged 25.6 points, 7.1 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game last year and is now on a team that is poorly constructed and at a severe talent disadvantage.
A plethora of teams would likely enquire about Booker in the event he requests a trade.
