Ralph Sampson has praised Kevin Durant’s talent, professionalism and work ethic as the veteran forward continues his career with the Houston Rockets.
Speaking to Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson for his #WORDSWITHSCOOP interview, the former Rockets center offered a positive assessment of Durant while discussing Houston’s prospects and the evolution of the NBA’s big men.
“I always love KD. Great talent, great player, great attitude about the game, works hard, and he’s the ultimate pro,” Sampson said. “So, I mean, you can’t hate on KD at all.”
Durant averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 78 regular-season games for Houston in 2025-26. He shot 52.0% from the field and 41.3% from three-point range, providing an efficient scoring option for a Rockets team that also featured Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.
Sampson, who played alongside Hakeem Olajuwon as part of Houston’s famed Twin Towers pairing, did not make a specific prediction about the Rockets’ upcoming season. Instead, he stressed the difficulty of assessing a team before the regular season reveals its health and rotation.
“I don’t make predictions in the preseason because you never know who’s going to be there, who’s going to get hurt, or whatever,” Sampson said. “So predictions, to me, fall false until you get the first 10, 15 games out of the way and see who’s going to play for the year and make adjustments.”
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The Hall of Famer added that even established teams can be difficult to evaluate before the season gets underway, pointing to the importance of player availability over a long campaign.
Sampson also discussed how the modern game has changed the demands placed on big men. He credited the evolution of spacing with creating opportunities for taller players to handle the ball and operate on the perimeter, while arguing that post skills remain important, particularly in crucial moments.
