Entering the NBA’s 2026-27 season, the case for optimism with the Houston Rockets typically involves key rotation players returning from injury (Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams).
But it is worth noting that in the 2026 offseason, Houston also made a pair of external additions to fortify its depth.
Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic signed with the Rockets as free agents, and head coach Ime Udoka appears poised to play both of those veteran guards in his initial rotation (albeit off the bench).
At Friday’s training camp practice in Houston, All-Star forward Kevin Durant was asked about his initial impression of the two rotation newcomers.
In comments to Ben DuBose of Rockets Wire, Durant said:
Man, just incredible. I can’t say enough about both of
their work ethics.
Bogi, I really always knew he was a worker. But to see it every day — the pace that he goes at and just how hard he goes every rep — is inspiring to me. It makes me go harder. He’s been through a lot of injuries and a lot of difficult situations, but he still approaches every day like he’s a rookie. Just excited to play again. That’s great to see.
And Marcus is the same way. Just a true vet that understands his role on the team every day, and he’s there to serve his teammates. You hear about these guys from afar, but you don’t know what it is until you get up close to them, and all the stuff they say is pretty true about those guys.
I asked KD about his first impressions of Bogdan Bogdanovic and Marcus Smart:
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) October 2, 2026
“I can’t say enough about both of their work ethics.”
“Bogi, the pace he goes at and how hard he goes every rep, it inspires me. It makes me go harder. Still approaches every day like he’s a rookie.” pic.twitter.com/NgikSYLqdV
Houston’s preseason slate opens in one week in China versus the Dallas Mavericks, and that long journey should offer Bogdanovic and Smart plenty of time to get to know their new teammates.
When asked how that can translate to the on-court product, Durant said:
When you pretty much know what a guy is thinking before he even says something, that helps. Just having conversations with Bogi and Smart — guys we haven’t played with before — we say a few things on the court, and then the next few possessions we don’t even talk. We just kind of play off of each other. I think the more time you get to sit down and talk to guys off the floor, the easier that is as a teammate. Those veteran guys have been around a lot of teammates, and they really know how to welcome themselves into a group.
Smart won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award when playing for Udoka with the 2021-22 Boston Celtics, and the 32-year-old also brings insurance as an additional ball-handler.
Meanwhile, Bogdanovic is a career 38.1% shooter from 3-point range, and the 34-year-old has already earned praise from Udoka for his off-ball movement — a potentially important skill for a Houston squad that drew criticism last season for its stagnant halfcourt offense.
But there are intangible benefits to consider, as well. For instance, as long-tenured NBA veterans, the presence of Smart and Bogdanovic should provide more balance to a rotation that — outside of Durant — was very young last season following the season-ending injuries to VanVleet and Adams.
The hope is that combining Houston’s young core and Durant with more quality veterans will lead to a better overall mix in the 2026-27 season. The Rockets went 52-30 in each of the past two regular seasons before losing in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, and Udoka has made it clear that expectations are higher this season.
“All the things I’ve talked about, they’ve almost exceeded our expectations,” Udoka said of Houston’s initial practices at training camp. “As far as playing at a faster pace, making plays for each other, touching the paint, and getting the turnovers down. The offensive rebounding was there (as a skill) already. So, the things we really harped on coming into camp, they’ve done a good job focusing on those.”
“Just like any trip, it can go either way. We can get sick of each other or grow closer together.”
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) October 2, 2026
Kevin Durant on the Rockets’ upcoming trip to Macau, China for preseason action. 😂✈️🏀 pic.twitter.com/2juXJJDZJG
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Kevin Durant offers strong praise for Houston’s newly acquired veterans
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