Houston Rockets
Organization in Basketball
Houston Rockets has come up in 3 episodes across 1 podcast in TMT, including The Bill Simmons Podcast. 4 people have made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
Kirk GoldsberryBasketball analytics writer and visual analyst, contributor to The Ringer
Goldsberry said Amen Thompson has regressed and currently ranks last among 216 high-volume jump shooters in the NBA.
“he's arguably the worst shooter in the NBA right now. He has the worst jump shooting efficiency and the worst shot-making impact in the entire NBA”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Hot Takes, OKC’s Red Flag, and Giannis vs. Father Time With Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House (Mar 26, 2026) · Listen from 42:01
Goldsberry noted Houston has ranked 22nd in offense since January 1 despite having Kevin Durant.
“they've ranked 22nd in the NBA in offense for half the season, Bill”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Hot Takes, OKC’s Red Flag, and Giannis vs. Father Time With Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House (Mar 26, 2026) · Listen from 32:28
Zach LoweRinger NBA analyst referenced repeatedly
Lowe says that because no one has denied it, the evidence suggests Kevin Durant was behind the burner-account texts described in The Athletic's Rockets story.
“And no one on the record, off the record, privately, publicly has come out and said, no, no, it actually wasn't Kevin Durant”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: Part 2: Cleveland Survives, Knicks-Sixers, and Whaddya Do for Denver, Houston, and Atlanta With Zach Lowe (May 4, 2026) · Listen from 27:45
Joe HouseRinger podcaster and longtime friend of Bill Simmons, known for sports betting talk
- Came true
House said this version of the Rockets is not a serious contender in the West and is a first-round exit candidate.
“This version of the Houston Rockets is not a serious team, not in this West”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Hot Takes, OKC’s Red Flag, and Giannis vs. Father Time With Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House (Mar 26, 2026) · Listen from 36:46
Bill SimmonsSportswriter and founder of The Ringer, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast
Simmons called Houston the most disconnected playoff team and blamed one of the year's worst coaching jobs.
“I think this has been one of the worst coaching jobs of the year”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Hot Takes, OKC’s Red Flag, and Giannis vs. Father Time With Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House (Mar 26, 2026) · Listen from 33:48
Predictions
- Came trueJoe House
House said this version of the Rockets is not a serious contender in the West and is a first-round exit candidate.
“This version of the Houston Rockets is not a serious team, not in this West”
The Bill Simmons Podcast: NBA Hot Takes, OKC’s Red Flag, and Giannis vs. Father Time With Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House (Mar 26, 2026) · Listen from 36:46 · Houston Rockets
Houston finished as the West's No. 5 seed and lost its first-round series 4-2 to the Los Angeles Lakers, ending with a 98-78 Game 6 loss on May 1, 2026. That was a first-round exit, as House predicted.
Sources: Lakers 98-78 Rockets (May 1, 2026) Game Recap - ESPN · Rockets' Season Disappointingly Ends with First-Round Exit - Yahoo Sports · Houston Rockets: What's next after another first-round exit? - Houston Chronicle · Rockets finish fifth in Western Conference as 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket locks into place - Yahoo Sports
Checked Oct 6, 2026
Coverage over time
Podcasts
- The Bill Simmons Podcast · 3 episodes
Episodes
NBA Lottery Karma Rankings, Jaylen’s Future, and a Blistering Wolves-Spurs Series With Nick WrightThe Bill Simmons Podcast · May 6, 2026 · 1 h 48 min
Bill Simmons and Nick Wright discuss the Celtics' exit and Jaylen Brown's future, the Timberwolves-Spurs series, LeBron's ranking, and 2026 NBA lottery karma rankings.
- Part 2: Cleveland Survives, Knicks-Sixers, and Whaddya Do for Denver, Houston, and Atlanta With Zach Lowe
The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 4, 2026 · 1 h 12 min
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe react to Cleveland's Game 7 win over Toronto, preview the NBA's second round, and weigh offseason moves for eliminated teams.
- NBA Hot Takes, OKC’s Red Flag, and Giannis vs. Father Time With Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House
The Bill Simmons Podcast · Mar 26, 2026 · 1 h 36 min
Bill Simmons, Kirk Goldsberry and Joe House debate OKC's vulnerabilities, All-NBA cases, Houston's bad vibes and whether any team should trade for Giannis.