Young Rockets stars validated on SI's 25 Under 25, proving their developing talent translates into tangible on-court success and a bright future.
The Houston Rockets don’t need a press release to tell them they’re young. Anyone who’s watched this team play already knows that. But when Sports Illustrated dropped its latest NBA 25 Under 25 list and Houston’s young core showed up on it, it mattered- not because of hype, but because of validation.
This list isn’t about flash or one hot stretch. It’s about trajectory. And the Rockets being represented signals that what they’re building isn’t theoretical anymore- it’s visible league-wide.
Alperen Şengün’s inclusion feels obvious at this point. He’s not just producing; he’s orchestrating. Houston’s offense bends around him, and that alone separates him from the pack of “promising” bigs. Amen Thompson landing on the list speaks to something different: inevitability. His impact doesn’t always show up cleanly in the box score, but his defensive pressure, pace, and ability to tilt games late are already hard to ignore.
That’s the through-line here. These aren’t guys making the list because of upside alone- they’re making it because they already affect winning. And that’s what makes this different from past rebuild narratives. Houston isn’t stacking potential and hoping it figures itself out. They’re watching it translate in real time.
The bigger takeaway is what this means for the franchise. When multiple players from one team crack a list like this, it says the foundation is solid. It says development is working. It says the timeline is real.
The Rockets aren’t done growing- far from it. But being recognized among the league’s top young talent confirms something Houston fans have felt all season: this isn’t a rebuild anymore. It’s the beginning of something that’s already taking shape.
Rockets' Young Core Cracks NBA's 25 Under 25 ListThree of Houston's young players made a prestigious list highlighting the next generation of NBA stars.
Category: General Sports
