Ime Udoka admitted at Houston Rockets media day Tuesday that "I don't think anybody met our expectations" in Kevin Durant's first season with the club, which culminated in a second consecutive 52-win campaign that included a first-round postseason exit. Season-ending injuries to veterans Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams played a role. But with both healthy and back in the fold, Udoka believes it's time for Houston to reach the next level.

"We're not here to just make the first round. We want to make some real noise, and I think everybody's hungry for that," Udoka said. VanVleet suffered a season-ending torn right ACL last September just before training camp. In adopting a by-committee approach to ballhandling, the Rockets finished the 2025-26 season ranked 24th in turnovers (14.4).

"This team was constructed to have me and Steven on the floor, not on the bench," VanVleet said. VanVleet, 32, hasn't played in an NBA game since May 2025, but has been cleared for 5-on-5 work. Udoka anticipates holding the veteran out of back-to-backs early in the season.

Adams, who ranks 35th all-time in offensive rebounds (2,910), underwent season-ending surgery on his left ankle in January. With Adams patrolling the paint, the Rockets have led the league in offensive rebounding in each of the past two seasons.