Houston Rockets 2024-25 Season Preview, Betting Odds

Playing .500 basketball in 2023-24 following three consecutive years of some of the worst seasons in franchise history was a massive step in a positive direction for the Houston Rockets, who had the biggest year over year improvement of any team across the Association. 

This 2024-25 season preview will look at all major betting odds pertaining to the Rockets heading into the upcoming campaign as they seek to end their four-year postseason draught. 

Houston Rockets' 2024 Offseason Acquisitions

Houston Rockets' 2024 Offseason Departures

Houston Rockets' 2025 NBA Championship, Western Conference, Southwest Division Betting Odds

Odds as of October 17, 2024 at FanDuel

With Ime Udoka at the wheel following his dismissal from the Boston Celtics after disclosing an inappropriate relationship with a team employee, the Rockets had someone as their head coach who had just guided a team to the Finals in 2022 in his first year on the job, but someone who also came with a great deal of controversy. Even so, it was a gamble the front office had to make, as the Stephen Silas era only resulted in the team winning a quarter of their games at 59-177 over a three-year period (.250). 

A new voice led to more of an emphasis being placed on Alperen Sengun, a Nikola Jokic-esque prototype of a modern big man who stuffed stat sheets and took over as Houston's leading scorer. Fred VanVleet brought championship experience as the new floor general, and Dillon Brooks provided attitude and toughness to a defense which soared from 29th in 2022-23 to 10th overall. 

Best Bet: None

There's unofficial tiers in the Western Conference considering how competitive the standings get near the top, and while the Rockets have reestablished themselves as a team worthy of respect, the fact of the matter remains that they were still five games back of vying for a berth in the play-in tournament even after winning 19 more times than they did the year prior. 

Even the Southwest Division is going to be more of a chore to fight through, as scheduling dictates four games versus each of the reigning conference champion Dallas Mavericks, the consistently-great New Orleans Pelicans, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, as well as a Memphis Grizzlies squad with hopefully a clean bill of health. The Rockets went 6-2 against the Spurs and Grizzlies alone last season, but 3-5 versus Dallas and New Orleans. 

There's plenty to be excited about in H-Town, but with sudden success comes the need to both validate it and maintain it. The pieces are in place to accomplish both, but expectations must be tempered to avoid jumping the gun and placing Houston on a pedestal it doesn't yet deserve to be on. 

Houston Rockets' 2024-25 NBA Win Total, Make Playoffs Odds

Odds as of October 17, 2024 at FanDuel

The Rockets' 41-41 record resulted in nearly as many victories as the team had won in the prior two seasons combined (42). It still didn't manifest into a playoff spot, though, extending the organization's drought to four years and matching its longest ever since moving from San Diego in 1971.

Best Bet: UNDER 42.5 Wins, -108

Taking into account the aforementioned factors of the Southwest Division getting healthier and more formidable, it's easy to see the path of least resistance here.

Houston can still improve upon last season, if ever so slightly, and still reach an UNDER total. 

Houston Rockets' 2024 NBA Cup Odds

Odds as of October 17, 2024 at FanDuel

The Rockets finished with a 2-2 record and second place in West Group B during the inaugural in-season tournament, therefore missing out on a spot in the knockout stage as other second-ranked teams had gone 3-1. The team is currently tied for the second-best odds to emerge from West Group A with the Sacramento Kings behind the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Houston Rockets' 2024-25 NBA Awards Odds

Odds as of October 17, 2024 at FanDuel

Best Bet: Reed Sheppard For NBA Rookie Of The Year, +750

Because of a prior trade which sent superstar guard James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets, the Rockets were gifted a first-round pick which rose to third overall and secured the services of Kentucky's Reed Sheppard. 

Houston had ranked 14th in 3-pointers made but just 23rd in efficiency, and with Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr off the board, Sheppard was the logical choice. He converted over 52 percent of his outside shots during his lone season as a Wildcat, and was recently named a member of the NBA 2K25 All-Summer League First Team after averaging 20 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists.

Even with the 20-year-old forward projected to come off the bench, Sheppard still has the third-best odds to take Rookie of the Year honors behind Zach Edey (+290) and Zaccharie Risacher (+700). Other first-year players may receive larger roles on lesser teams, but Sheppard is in an ideal spot to make an impact on a roster with playoff aspirations and could receive a ton of recognition should he live up to his billing as a lethal sharpshooter. 

2024-25 NBA Team Previews, Betting Odds