Rockets LaunchPod

To kick off training camp for the upcoming season, the Houston Rockets hosted their 2026 Media Day on Tuesday, September 22.

Our Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves will have extended coverage and analysis in the days ahead. For now, we’re playing back all of the Q&A interviews for players, head coach Ime Udoka, and general manager Rafael Stone. 

Training camp officially opens on Wednesday, September 23.

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To kick off training camp for the upcoming season, the Houston Rockets hosted their 2026 Media Day on Tuesday, September 22.

Our Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves will have extended coverage and analysis in the days ahead. For now, we’re playing back all of the Q&A interviews for players, head coach Ime Udoka, and general manager Rafael Stone. 

Training camp officially opens on Wednesday, September 23.

Support our partners and sponsors! Also, please subscribe and leave a positive review at your podcast home of choice.

To kick off training camp for the upcoming season, the Houston Rockets hosted their 2026 Media Day on Tuesday, September 22.

Our Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves will have extended coverage and analysis in the days ahead. For now, we’re playing back all of the Q&A interviews for players, head coach Ime Udoka, and general manager Rafael Stone. 

Training camp officially opens on Wednesday, September 23.

Support our partners and sponsors! Also, please subscribe and leave a positive review at your podcast home of choice.

To kick off training camp for the upcoming season, the Houston Rockets hosted their 2026 Media Day on Tuesday, September 22.

Our Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves will have extended coverage and analysis in the days ahead. For now, we’re playing back all of the Q&A interviews for players, head coach Ime Udoka, and general manager Rafael Stone. 

Training camp officially opens on Wednesday, September 23.

Support our partners and sponsors! Also, please subscribe and leave a positive review at your podcast home of choice.

Varun Shankar, Rockets beat writer for the Houston Chronicle, joins Ben DuBose to break down the team’s latest developments in its final days before 2026-27 training camp. The discussion begins with reaction to Amen Thompson’s recent contract extension (five years, $208 million) and analysis of what the deal says about the negotiating prowess of GM Rafael Stone. 

Other topics include key questions and storylines to watch for at Media Day (Tuesday, September 22) and the opening of training camp (Wednesday, September 23). Discussion topics include the expected returns of Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams; the possibility of a bounce-back season for Tari Eason; and the potential of role adjustments for players throughout the rotation.

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The dog days of the NBA offseason are officially here, so we’re talking over-under lines and looking ahead to the start of training camp in late September.

As part of Tuesday’s episode, our Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves offer insights and predictions related to Houston’s over-under betting lines for both regular-season wins (46.5) and Western Conference seed. In an over-under format, the show also explores potential minutes totals and usage for the top nine rotation players on the 2026-27 Rockets.

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Varun Shankar, Rockets beat writer for the Houston Chronicle, joins Ben DuBose, Dave Hardisty, and Paulo Alves to analyze and rank Houston’s current stockpile of players and future draft assets. The show also includes insight on the team’s 2026 offseason moves and where various players and draft picks may fit into the larger blueprint for general manager Rafael Stone.

This episode can also be viewed in video form on YouTube.

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.The Rockets entered the NBA’s 2026 offseason with a clear shooting deficiency, and their most important acquisition to try and fix that may not be a player.

In Tuesday’s show, Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves break down all the implications of Houston hiring “shot whisperer” Chip Engelland as an assistant coach. Topics include what it means for the current roster and its outlook for next season and beyond, as well as what the investment says about team owner Tilman Fertitta and head coach Ime Udoka.

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The Rockets are off to a 3-1 start at summer league, and Bruce Thornton and Isaiah Crawford are each showing promising signs for an NBA future.

In Wednesday’s show, our Ben DuBose, Paulo Alves, and Dave Hardisty (Editor of ClutchFans) share key takeaways from Las Vegas while also looking ahead to the remainder of the 2026 offseason. If Thornton and Marcus Smart prove to be Houston’s flagship external additions, is that enough to be a Western Conference contender in 2026-27? Ben, Dave, and Paulo break down the pros and cons.

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The Rockets opened 2026 free agency with a series of moves, including the external signings of Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic; the re-signing of restricted free agent Tari Eason; and the departures of Dorian Finney-Smith and Josh Okogie.

In Wednesday’s show, our Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves react to all the latest developments in Houston, including what appears to be a strategy to dip below the NBA’s luxury tax line for the 2026-27 season.

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