Led by two centers in Steven Adams and Alperen Sengun, the Rockets will start one of the biggest lineups in NBA history to begin their 2025-26 season.
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka confirmed at Monday’s team practice that Houston will begin its 2025-26 regular season using a “double big” starting lineup featuring both Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams. At +21.7 and +21.5, respectively, Sengun and Adams had the team’s best net ratings in preseason play.
In one of the largest lineups in NBA history, Houston’s starting five will include 6-foot-7 Amen Thompson at point guard alongside four players who are 6-foot-10 or taller (Sengun, Adams, Jabari Smith Jr., and Kevin Durant).
It remains to be seen whether Udoka and the Rockets stick with the “jumbo” lineup on a more permanent basis. Houston’s regular-season opener is Tuesday at Oklahoma City, where the Thunder are expected to start two big men in Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Depending on the jumbo group’s success, it could be that Udoka downsizes when facing opponents that are more conventional with their lineups. In preseason play, Udoka experimented with multiple starting lineups and indicated that being flexible from game to game was an option early in the season, especially with Dorian Finney-Smith (offseason ankle surgery) not yet available.
Udoka confirmed prior to exhibition play that four starting spots (Durant, Thompson, Sengun, and Smith) were locked in, and three players — Adams, second-year guard Reed Sheppard, and fourth-year guard Tari Eason — were all candidates for the remaining spot. That spot was once earmarked for veteran guard Fred VanVleet, but the plan changed after his serious knee injury in September.
So, at least to start the year, it’s the veteran big man who will get the nod — and the Rockets will likely use zone coverages on defense to compensate for any lack of agility.
Sheppard and Eason are both still expected to play rotation roles off Houston’s bench.
