Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant addressed unverified screenshots alleging he used a burner account on X during NBA All-Star Weekend, downplaying the controversy. He emphasized focusing on the season and team unity. The allegations involved criticisms of current and former teammates and coaches.
On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, following Houston Rockets practice, Kevin Durant responded to social media buzz about unverified screenshots from an anonymous X account. The screenshots, which circulated during the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, purportedly showed direct messages criticizing Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and former Suns coach Frank Vogel. They also included commentary on Golden State Warriors stars Steph Curry and coach Steve Kerr, as well as complaints about Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. and center Alperen Şengün.
Durant avoided confirming or denying involvement, stating, "I'm not here to get into Twitter nonsense. I'm just here to focus on the season. Keep it pushing. I get y'all have to ask those questions." When asked about discussions with teammates, he replied, "My teammates know what it is. We have been locked in the whole season. We enjoyed our break. Had a great practice today. Looking forward to the road trip."
Durant, who has nearly 20 million followers on X, has a history of social media engagement. In 2017, he accidentally tweeted from his personal account in the third person, explaining his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder and blaming the organization and coach Billy Donovan. He later apologized, calling it "childish" and "stupid." In a 2019 interview on ESPN's "The Boardroom," Durant admitted using anonymous accounts to speak freely without the spotlight of fame. In 2021, the NBA fined him $50,000 for using homophobic and misogynistic language in an Instagram exchange with actor Michael Rapaport.
During All-Star Weekend media availability on Saturday, Durant joked about preferring to give up X over video games, saying, "They don't deserve to hear this God-level talk I'm giving to them. They take it for granted."
Now in his first season with the Rockets after a trade from Phoenix last offseason, the 37-year-old Durant averages 25.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, shooting over 50% from the field and 40% from three. Houston sits at 33-20, fourth in the Western Conference, but has gone 11-9 in its last 20 games amid injuries to players like Fred VanVleet (torn ACL) and Steven Adams (ankle surgery). A viral clip from a February 5 loss to the Charlotte Hornets captured Durant urging Şengün to "play some defense."
With 29 games left, the Rockets are tied with Denver for third but just three losses from seventh-place Phoenix, making team cohesion crucial amid these off-court rumors.
