No more internet lobs for now from Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant this time. The Rockets forward is back to business on the court with the 2026-27 NBA season finally here, and he already has a poster dunk.
He took off and threw down an emphatic dunk right in front of Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg in a season-opening game at Toyota Center in Houston on Wednesday.
Here is that huge dunk from Durant on the Mavs youngster, and it surely deserves multiple replays. It was that good.
Durant easily got by the defense of Mavericks forward PJ Washington and drove down the lane with barely any resistance there from Dallas. Flagg was the last man on defense for the Mavs, but he didn't even bother to jump and challenge Durant at the rim. He knew what was going to be the outcome with the former NBA Most Valuable Player coming down the lane with full force.
Durant is still a problem for opposing defenses. His blend of length, range and mobility remain a dangerous mix, and he showed that in that play. Durant could have just pulled up for a 3-pointer there, as Washington wasn't really all over him, but he saw an open lane and decided to attack it.
Now in his 20th season in the league, Durant is looking to lead the Rockets to the top, while he still can play at a high level. That is going to be easier said than done, but Houston has the talent to make the NBA Playoffs and make a deep posteason run. But that's a long way from now, with Rockets focusing more at the moment in winning early momentum in the season.