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Rockets LaunchPod

Ben DuBose

Ben DuBose, longtime Rockets media member, writer, and podcast host, discusses the 2026-27 Rockets season with Paulo Alves and special guests. Basketball topics include the performance of star players such as Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, and Alperen Sengun; potential transactions in 2026 and beyond; weekly game recaps; and much more.

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35 episodes
Avg 48 min
English

Episodes 35

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July 1 · 38 min
Free agency reaction: Rockets sign Marcus Smart, Bogdan Bogdanović
The NBA’s 2026 free agency window is now open for business, and the Rockets quickly reached agreements to sign both Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanović. In Wednesday’s show, Ben DuBose reviews the basketball and salary cap implications of both deals...
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June 30 · 1 hr 4 min
Rockets free agency: Fred VanVleet opts in, Marcus Smart possibly on way
As the NBA’s 2026 free agency window opens, the Houston Rockets suddenly find themselves with more veteran insurance in the backcourt. Fred VanVleet officially opted into the final year of his previous contract, while Lakers guard Marcus Smart looks...
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June 26 · 52 min
Draft reaction: Rockets add Bruce Thornton, Quadir Copeland
This week’s NBA draft concluded with the Houston Rockets adding Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton (second round) and North Carolina State guard/wing Quadir Copeland (UDFA) to their 2026-27 roster. In Thursday’s show, our Ben DuBose reacts to the...
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June 23 · 13 min
Draft week preview: What options do the Rockets have?
Tuesday’s SportsTalk 790 interview features insight from Ben DuBose on what the Rockets are likely to do and consider during this week’s NBA Draft. Topics include players that could be on the trading block; whether Houston could move into the first...
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June 11 · 1 hr 11 min
What lessons should Houston take from the 2026 NBA Finals?
Hosted by Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, Thursday’s show features insight and analysis pertaining to the 2026 NBA Finals, and specifically those Spurs-Knicks storylines with implications for the Rockets. The initial segment explores what fans should...
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June 4 · 53 min
New-look Rockets: Behind the scenes of uniform, logo changes
Championship yellow is back, as is the Dunkstronaut! Jose Lopez, senior creative director of the Rockets, and Taylor French, director of marketing operations, speak with Ben DuBose and Dave Hardisty regarding Houston’s new look for the 2026-27 season...
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May 20 · 1 hr 24 min
Can Rockets adapt to the NBA’s latest “super team” era?
After a few years of relative parity, the Spurs and Thunder appear to be entrenched juggernauts atop the West standings. As San Antonio and Oklahoma City square off in the 2026 Western Conference Finals, each features an MVP frontrunner and other...
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May 5 · 1 hr 6 min
Crash landing: Pivotal offseason awaits as Lakers ground Rockets
To quote Rockets general manager Rafael Stone, a “frustrating and disappointing season” concluded with Friday’s series-ending loss in Game 6 versus the Los Angeles Lakers. For a second straight year, Houston went 52-30 in the regular season before...
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April 30 · 9 min
Game 5: Matt Thomas calls via Rockets’ radio network
Today’s episode features https://x.com/SportsMT, radio play-by-play voice of the Rockets, calling the second-half highlights of Wednesday’s thrilling Game 5 victory in Los Angeles. With the Lakers now up 3-2 in the series, Game 6 is Friday night in...
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April 29 · 1 hr 5 min
Without Kevin Durant, can Rockets make a historic comeback?
No NBA team has ever won a playoff series after trailing 3-0. Can these Houston Rockets, who remain without injured star Kevin Durant, somehow pull it off against LeBron James and the Lakers (who still have a 3-1 lead)? Ahead of Wednesday’s pivotal...
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April 23 · 1 hr 13 min
Playoff pushovers? Lakers expose Houston’s systemic flaws
Despite drawing what appeared to be a friendly first-round matchup, the Rockets now trail 2-0 in their best-of-seven series versus the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers. With Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves as hosts, Thursday’s episode offers background and...
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April 15 · 57 min
Playoff preview: Rockets draw Lakers in first round
Did Kevin Durant and the Rockets (52-30, No. 5 in Western Conference) get an unexpected gift by drawing LeBron James and the injury riddled Lakers (53-29, No. 4) as their first-round opponent? Hosted by Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, Wednesday’s show...
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April 7 · 1 hr 10 min
Rockets extend winning streak with impressive late season run
As the 2026 playoffs approach, the Rockets are on a season-best winning streak of six games and counting, and they could be peaking at the right time. Houston (49-29) enters Tuesday at No. 5 in the Western Conference standings and within a game of the...
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March 31 · 58 min
As playoffs loom, can Rockets change the narrative?
Led by a resurgent showing from Alperen Sengun, Houston (45-29) enters the final day of March on a winning streak. So, in their last eight games before the NBA’s 2026 playoffs, can the Rockets finally heat up and put themselves in position to make a...
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March 22 · 33 min
Rockets 123, Heat 122: Game of the season?
In perhaps the most memorable game yet of Houston’s 2025-26 season, Amen Thompson hit a game-winning tip shot at the buzzer as the Rockets rallied past Miami. At 43-27, Houston remains at No. 4 in the tightly packed Western Conference standings, which...
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