Charles Barkley does not view the Houston Rockets as a serious threat in the Western Conference entering the 2026-27 NBA season, instead pointing to the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs as the teams positioned to control the conference for years to come.
During a recent interview with Kyle Odegard of Casino Guru News, Barkley was asked about his outlook for Houston following a disappointing end to last season. The Hall of Famer did not mince words.
“I don’t think about them at all.”
Barkley then explained why he has little confidence in the Rockets despite their 52-win regular season in 2025-26.
“They’re not any good. They’ve got no leadership and they don’t have a style of play,” Barkley said. “It’s over with. It’s all about OKC and San Antonio for the next few years in the West.”
Houston's season ended in disastrous fashion after the Rockets finished 52-30 and earned the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference. They fell into a 3-0 hole against an injury-riddled Los Angeles Lakers team in the first round before eventually losing the series in six games.
The early exit raised questions about whether Houston can take another step and join the conference's elite after a strong regular season.
Charles Barkley believes Rockets can't keep up with Thunder, Spurs
The Rockets will enter the new campaign with reasons for optimism. Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams are set to return to the rotation, while Houston also added veteran guard Marcus Smart, who played a pivotal role in the Lakers' first-round victory over the Rockets last season.
Article Continues BelowThose additions could provide Houston with additional leadership and postseason experience, directly addressing one of Barkley's biggest criticisms.
However, Barkley believes the Rockets remain behind Oklahoma City and San Antonio.
The Thunder established themselves as a Western Conference power by winning the 2025 NBA championship. Oklahoma City followed that title by posting an NBA-best 64-18 record in 2025-26 and securing the West's No. 1 seed for another postseason run.
San Antonio took another major step forward last season. The Spurs finished 62-20 before eliminating Oklahoma City and advancing through the Western Conference playoffs. Their run ended against the New York Knicks in five games in the NBA Finals, but the appearance cemented San Antonio's emergence among the league's top contenders.
Barkley expects the Thunder-Spurs rivalry to remain at the center of the Western Conference picture well beyond the upcoming season.
“It’s going to be between those two teams the next five years, easily.”
His prediction leaves little room for Houston despite the Rockets' continued efforts to strengthen their roster. After winning 52 games but failing to survive the opening round last season, Houston will enter 2026-27 facing pressure to prove that its regular-season success can translate to the playoffs.
For Barkley, however, the hierarchy in the West has already been established — and he does not believe the Rockets belong alongside Oklahoma City and San Antonio.