US media asked: Rockets teammates relieved the defensive pressure for Durant, will he win the MVP next season?

Today, Sports Illustrated published an article asking a question, namely, can Durant win the MVP next season? The following is all.

The Houston Rockets successfully built themselves into a strong contender through a series of operations during the offseason. Not only did they streamline the roster, re-sign existing players, they also signed some new contracts in the free market, and most importantly, they got Kevin Durant through the deal. Now, the Houston Rockets enter the 2025-26 season with a comprehensive star roster and depth rotation, and they are expected to compete with the best teams in the league on both offense and defense.

However, the Rockets' road to winning the Western Conference will never be easy, and they need Durant to continue to maintain a superstar-level performance in order to make a difference. In fact, the team may need Durant to regain his former MVP form. This is a huge challenge for Durant, who is about to be 37, but it is not completely impossible given the Rockets' roster configuration.

Durant has been one of the best players in the league for many years. Especially in the 2013-14 season, he won the MVP with averaging 32.0 points per game and a 50% shooting percentage. He has also been in the top five in the MVP voting multiple times in the other five seasons.

Durant's third and final season with the Golden State Warriors was a turning point in his career, suffering an Achilles tendon injury in the 2019 Finals, resulting in a reimbursement throughout the 2019-20 season. He has since played for Brooklyn and Phoenix, and despite being selected four times and still scoring well, he failed to make the top nine in the MVP vote.

There is no doubt that as long as Durant comes on the court, he can have a significant impact on the Rockets. He played in 62 games last season, averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. But if he can return to the MVP level, the Rockets will jump to another level, and the team's configuration may help him achieve this goal.

The Rockets are seeking to win Durant in the trading market for his offensive ability. While players like All-Star Shin Kyung and veteran Van Van Vreet can also score, they are more of the organizers. The team also has a group of very talented defenders, such as Amen, Tari Ethan, Jabbarri Smith Jr., which will relieve Durant of a lot of defensive pressure.

With defensive pressure reduced and teams willing to share responsibilities, Durant may have his best offensive season in recent years. If he does a great job with the top Western Conference teams, he will likely be in the MVP discussion again. Durant's staying healthy is crucial to the Rockets' success this season. But as awards season approaches, his performance at the beginning of the season will also be worthy of attention.