The Houston Rockets are once again one of the NBA's premier teams. The league is telling us how they feel by scheduling them to play the Thunder on opening night (October 21).
This feels like a time to reflect. Imagine if the Rockets had been a scheduling priority over the last few years. Fans around the world would have been treated to some of the most abject basketball to ever curse their screens.
It was bleak. Now, it's blindingly bright. The Rockets are back. They're playing the defending champions in the 2025-26 season's opening salvo.