The Houston Rockets are quietly putting together a strong season. They currently hold a 41-27 league record, and their momentum has slowed a bit lately, highlighted by a recent 124-116 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, but the bigger picture still looks promising.
Even during this slight dip, the team has managed to draw attention. One of the more interesting takes came recently from former NBA player and coach Sam Mitchell, who made a bold claim about how the Toronto Raptors stack up against the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Sam Mitchell Weighs In on Toronto Raptors’ Talent Level
In a recent segment on TSN, Mitchell shared his view that the Raptors, currently 5th in the East, actually have more overall talent than the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons.
“You think about Cade Cunningham, who’s their second-best player? Look at the Raptors. You got Scottie Barnes and BI. Those are your 2 best players…”
“You look at the Center position. Jakob Pöltl and Duren? About the same. So if you look at this Raptors team, and you look at what players have accomplished, on the Raptors, you can make an argument the Raptors may be a better team, as far as talent, than Detroit,” Mitchell said during the segment.
Mitchell’s comment is not without merit. Cade Cunningham has been the clear standout for Detroit this season. He is averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game and is carrying a heavy load on offense.
He is the only player on the Pistons roster who is averaging over 20 points. This alone shows how much responsibility he has taken on. The next closest contributor is Jalen Duren, who is averaging 18.5 points per game. While Duren has been solid, there is still a noticeable gap in offensive production compared to Cunningham.
On the other hand, the Rockets’ success this season has come from a more balanced approach while sitting 5th in the Western Conference.
Kevin Durant has been the anchor of the team since being traded to Houston in July 2025. He is leading the offense with 25.8 points per game while shooting 51.4% from the field and 40.2% from 3-point range.
Alongside him, Alperen Şengün has been a key piece. He is contributing 21.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. His ability to score and create plays has made the Rockets’ offense powerful. Moreover, the team is also benefiting from contributions across the roster as younger players like Amen Thompson grow into their roles.
In the end, Mitchell might be onto something regarding the depth of talent needed to compete. If the Rockets can maintain this team chemistry, they could be a dangerous team in the playoffs.
