Paul Pierce explains why Kevin Durant-Rockets relationship might not survive this offseason
Paul Pierce explains why Kevin Durant-Rockets relationship might not survive this offseason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The 202526 Houston Rockets finished 5230, earning the Wests fifth seed despite losing Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams to injuries. Kevin Durant stayed healthy for 78 games, averaging 26 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. On the surface, the season looked like a success.But according to reports, the chemistry was rotting behind the scenes. It all started during the All-Star break, after screenshots reportedly linking Durant to a burner account, "@gethigher77," became public.The two-time NBA champion allegedly used the account to bash teammates Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. Durant dismissed it as "Twitter nonsense," but The Athletic reported the locker room never moved past it. Even though they held a player-only meeting and agreed to move on, the tension remained.The breaking point came in the playoffs. Durant missed Game 1 with a knee injury, played Game 2 and then sat out the rest of the series with an ankle sprain. Without him, the Rockets lost in six games to the underdog Lakers team that played without Luka Doncic.Now, league insiders think the experiment is over. On the Ticket & The Truth podcast with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce pointed directly at the burner-account fallout as the ultimate breaking point."It sounds like, unofficially at least, the reports are that based on what happened this year with KD, the team, and the burner-account stuff allegedly saying things about the team, it fractured the relationship," Pierce said. "And if that's true, I think the time might be up."Pierce isnt a Rockets insider, but he knows what a broken locker room looks like and how it usually ends. Throughout his career, including his time with the "Big Three" Celtics and later the Nets and Clippers, Pierce saw how both strong leadership and internal friction could dictate a seasons end.Durant, now 37, signed a $43.9 million extension in October 2025. The deal includes a $46.1 million player option for the 2027-28 season, which gives him leverage this summer. Whether he stays depends on whether the rift with his teammates is permanent and if the front office is willing to risk keeping him.More NBA news:Victor Wembanyamas Spurs just got one thing every playoff team wantsNBA Champion accuses media of unfair coverage of Kevin Durants playoff injuryWhat caused Victor Wembanyama to lose his cool during his playoff masterclassIs Mike Schmitz the missing piece in Masai Ujiris Mavericks rebuild?This James Harden injury concern emerges at the worst possible time for CavaliersWhy Donovan Mitchell trade makes sense for Rockets to win a championshipThis might be the only way Adam Silver can fix the NBA's flopping problemDirk Nowitzki explains why JJ Redicks referee complaints feel 'brand new' after Lakers Game 2 loss
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