The Houston Rockets head into a new NBA season with the ultimate goal of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

It’s been a tough watch, at times, over the last few years.

The Rockets have had a rough ride in recent years but could rise to the top of the Western Conference this seasonGetty

Finishing with a record of 41–41 last time out was a marked improvement to the three season’s prior, and proves that this team has a chance to take the next step.

After all, building from two 15th placed finishes in the Western Conference in 2021 and 2022, to 14th place in 2023 and most recently 11th in 2024, suggests things are trending upwards.

This team is young, exciting and some would suggest it’s brimming with potential.

But it’s also full of uncertainty.

Amen Thompson, Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr and this year’s third overall draft pick, Reed Sheppard, form a young nucleus that is oozing with potential.

With veterans such as Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and Steven Adams mixed in, the Rockets will be an interesting watch as they chase a play-off run.

And if things go well from the start on Wednesday night, what’s to stop them becoming this year’s Oklahoma City Thunder?

Comparisons can be drawn between the Rockets and the Thunder, who last season pulled it all together to jump to the top of the Western Conference – and begin the new season as the overwhelming favourite to win it again.

So can the Rockets follow in the footsteps of their conference rivals?

Jonathan Feigen, a long-time Rockets and NBA beat writer for the Houston Chronicle, thinks it could be possible.

If Houston are to push on, they need at least one star to step up to All-Star levelGetty

In an exclusive interview with talkSPORT, Feigen shared his expectations for the upcoming season.

“They are fascinating because of the way they have been built,” he said of the Rockets.

“They made the plan very clear from the beginning. The three years of collecting young talent, collecting draft assets, collecting cap space.

“They had none of that when it started, they had the worst three-year record in the league. But they did all that. Now they have seven young guys that they drafted.

“They brought back 11 guys with the most playing time on the team last year. That gives them great depth, but a lot of questions.

“Do they become this year’s OKC? Oklahoma City had an MVP calibre player [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander]. They need someone of that group and maybe two to emerge – if not MVP calibre, All-Star calibre.”

There is no doubt that the Rockets have built a team ready to compete, and Feigen went on to name three players that have the potential to become All-Star calibre players and propel Houston to the play-offs.

“Does Alperen Sengun take that step? He was closest to All-Star. Does Jalen Green? I hear raves about Amen Thompson,” he added.

“I don’t know if the Rockets will go all the way to the top of the Western Conference, the way Oklahoma City did, but can you be a play-off team?

The Rockets will look to follow in the footsteps of OKC this seasonGetty

“That’s what it comes down to, if one or two of those guys from that group emerge as All-NBA or All-Star-calibre players.”

The Rockets begin their season on Wednesday night when they face the Charlotte Hornets, before facing the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.

Then they head on the road to face Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.