Houston Rockets Team Awards for 2025-2026

With another NBA season officially in the books, it’s time to recognize the players who made the biggest impact for the Houston Rockets. Here are the site's team awards for the 2025-2026 season.

Most Valuable Player — Kevin Durant

Durant undoubtedly became the Rockets’ most valuable player in his first year with the franchise, averaging 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists over 78 games. For his efforts, he received an All-Star selection and was named to the All-NBA Second Team.

Still one of the league’s top players, the 37-year-old should have Houston’s front office thinking with a win-now mindset to maximize its championship window. While Durant was sidelined for the majority of the Rockets’ first-round playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers, his availability was exceptional otherwise.

Offensive Player of the Year — Kevin Durant

Not only was Durant the Rockets’ scoring leader last season, but the 16-time All-Star was one of the NBA’s premier offensive performers. He finished fourth in the league in total points, behind Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jaylen Brown.

In addition to his high scoring volume, Durant had a 52.9% clutch field goal percentage. For his late fourth-quarter efforts, he finished in the top 10 in Clutch Player of the Year voting. When the game is on the line, his accuracy suggests that the two-time NBA Finals MVP should take priority for last-shot opportunities.

Defensive Player of the Year — Amen Thompson

With 79 starts, 1.5 steals, and 3.8 defensive win shares, Thompson takes the edge over other deserving candidates as the Rockets’ top defender. His positional versatility and high-energy disruption add to his reputation as an impactful player.

The 23-year-old earned national attention by finishing in the top 10 in Defensive Player of the Year voting for a second consecutive year. When choosing the most valuable defensive player, a team-high 2,953 minutes solidifies his defensive efforts as a central component to the Rockets’ defensive scheme.

Most Improved Player of the Year — Reed Sheppard

Sheppard was drafted by the Rockets with the third overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. In his rookie year, Sheppard averaged 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists over 52 games. He was limited to 12.6 minutes per game.

After Fred VanVleet suffered a season-ending injury prior to Opening Day, Sheppard received a significant promotion within Houston’s rotation. He went on to average 13.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists over 82 games.

With 39.4% three-point accuracy and 1.5 steals per game, Sheppard has quickly developed into a deep-range specialist and an elite stealer. With all things considered, his sophomore year resulted in a top-10 finish in Sixth Man of the Year voting and shows rapid growth for a 22-year-old guard.

Alperun Sengun — May 1, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) handles the ball against Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) during the first quarter game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Playmaker of the Year — Alperen Sengun

Being compared to the likes of Nikola Jokic, Sengun is known to be Houston’s primary frontcourt playmaker. Averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists over 72 games, he finished as Houston’s leader in assists and rebounds.

As suggested by the category, Sengun’s court vision and passing are exceptional for an NBA center. From a positional ranking, Sengun is behind only Jokic for the most total assists from last season. Though his offensive prowess encompasses other areas, including short-roll facilitation, shot fakes, and transitional movement, this skill contributed to his All-Star selection in February.

Unsung Hero — Jabari Smith Jr.

Last season, Smith averaged 15.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game over 77 games. Although his fourth year in the league had decent production, there are doubts about whether the 23-year-old can ultimately reach an All-Star ceiling.

Although not as revered from a national perspective as Durant, Sengun, or Thompson, Smith provided vital consistency as Houston’s starting power forward. He averaged 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds throughout the Rockets’ six playoff games, when the franchise was dealing with various major injuries.

Rising Star — Amen Thompson

Known for his speed, explosiveness, and versatility, Thompson is gaining momentum as one of the most exciting players to watch in the NBA. He averaged 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists over 79 games last season, resulting in an eighth-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

With his scoring volume continuing to spike from year to year, there’s a realistic chance that the 23-year-old guard could earn his first All-Star selection in 2027. Based on last season alone, there is no doubt that he is a rising star in the NBA.

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