Kevin Durant has not publicly cleared up allegations that he used a burner account on X to criticize current and former NBA teammates, including Houston Rockets players Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün, even as the team navigated the fallout during a first-round playoff exit.
Screenshots from an account believed by many to belong to Durant, @gethigher77, circulated widely in February ahead of the All-Star break. The posts allegedly included pointed criticism of Smith, questioning his reliability in shooting and defense while using derogatory language, and of Şengün, described as unable to shoot or defend effectively. Former teammates such as Devin Booker and Kyrie Irving were also referenced in the alleged messages.
When asked directly about the account during a Rockets practice session in February, Durant brushed off the inquiry. “I’m not here to get into Twitter nonsense,” he said. “My teammates know what it is. We’ve been locked in the whole season.”
Durant, who joined the Rockets via trade last summer and averaged 26 points per game in the regular season, offered no explicit denial or confirmation. He has previously acknowledged using alternate social media accounts. The 37-year-old superstar has not elaborated further in the months since, including in the wake of Houston’s playoff elimination.
Teammates’ reactions have been a mix of professionalism and reported unease. According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the Rockets held a players-only discussion about the allegations, after which the group agreed to move past the issue.
Smith, one of the players singled out in the alleged posts, responded publicly in a measured way. He expressed disappointment with media attempts to manufacture conflict and posted supportive content featuring himself and Durant. In later comments during the postseason, Smith noted it was on Durant to find ways to contribute against defensive attention.
However, not all assessments were as unified. Former Rockets guard Vernon Maxwell, a two-time champion with the franchise, told the “All The Smoke” podcast in March that the situation had “split the goddamn guys up,” with players no longer exchanging high-fives or chest bumps as freely.
Coach Ime Udoka downplayed social media drama, and the team pushed forward, reaching the playoffs. Yet sources told The Athletic that the burner account issue remained an unresolved distraction internally. Houston was eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in six games, with Durant missing significant time due to injuries.
As the offseason begins, questions persist about team chemistry and Durant’s future with the young Rockets core he was acquired to elevate. Durant, a future Hall of Famer with two NBA titles and four scoring titles, has not addressed the allegations beyond his initial February remarks.
For now, the Rockets appear focused on moving forward, though the episode has added another layer to Durant’s well-documented history of engaging — and sometimes clashing — with online discourse.
