The Houston Rockets play basketball.
Houston Rockets . The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) , as a member of the league 's Western Conference Southwest Division . James Edward Harden Jr. ( born August 26 , 1989 ) is an American professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . The National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) is an annual National Basketball Association ( NBA ) award given since the 1955 -- 56 season to the best performing player of the regular season .