Boardroom, the sports media company co-founded by Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant and his business partner Rich Kleiman, has laid off its entire full-time editorial team without warning, according to multiple reports.
The abrupt move, first reported Saturday by HuffPost deputy editor Philip Lewis on the social media platform X, comes just days after Durant was embroiled in a fresh controversy over alleged burner accounts that criticized current and former teammates. Former Boardroom writer Michelai Graham confirmed the layoffs in a public statement, noting that affected staff were unable to export their email contacts before access was revoked.
Kevin Durant’s entire full-time media and entertainment staff at his company, Boardroom, were all just laid off without notice, per @Phil_Lewis_.
Last week, Durant was involved in a viral situation related to a potential burner account. pic.twitter.com/KTntZF0OFX
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) February 21, 2026
Boardroom, launched in 2020, focuses on sports, media and entertainment content, including podcasts, newsletters and video series. The company has not issued an official statement linking the layoffs to Durant’s recent social media scandal, and representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, the timing has fueled widespread speculation online, with some suggesting the cuts may stem from internal fallout over the burner allegations.
The controversy erupted during NBA All-Star Weekend when screenshots from an unverified X account, believed by many to be operated by Durant, circulated widely. The messages included sharp criticisms of Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, former teammates like Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Devin Booker, and even current Rockets players Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. Durant, who has a history with burner accounts dating back to 2017 when he admitted to using them to defend himself online, dismissed the latest claims as “Twitter nonsense” during a Rockets practice Wednesday. “I’m not here to get into Twitter nonsense,” Durant told reporters. “I’m just here to focus on the season.”
Reactions on X were swift and often laced with humor or skepticism, reflecting Durant’s polarizing online persona. One user, @Champ_Lion, quipped in a quote post: “Ngga was in a group chat with strangers named ‘slimreaper35’ and ‘KDGoat7’ and expected them to be honorable.”
Another, @chiefflips, suggested the layoffs might be tied to the leak: “someone from the team must’ve been who leaked his burner account 😭😭😭.”
Sports writer @joey_doubleyou referenced Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ cost-cutting reputation, posting: “bezos shuttlesworth.”
Others expressed surprise at the company’s apparent stability. “That’s crazy I thought they were doing good work,” wrote @gifdsports.
User @CWMonieHQ noted recent missteps, including a disputed Super Bowl viewership report: “A messy two weeks.” Lakers insider @AnthonyIrwinLA summed up Durant’s recent headlines: “Helluva run for KD lately.”
The layoffs add to a challenging period for Durant, 37, who joined the Rockets this season after stints with the Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder. Houston, currently holding a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
