Leaked screenshots have allegedly exposed Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant using a burner account to criticize his teammates in private group chats, including a pointed remark about young forward Jabari Smith Jr. The messages, which surfaced online over the weekend, feature the anonymous profile stating, "I Can't Trust Jabari," reportedly referring to the 22-year-old player Durant was recruited to mentor.
The controversy adds to Durant's history of burner account scandals, as the Rockets star has faced similar accusations multiple times before. The team signed the 37-year-old to a lucrative $90 million (£66 million) extension in October 2025, banking on his experience to steer their promising young core toward a championship. Instead, these alleged private messages have thrust locker room dynamics into the spotlight.
Jabari Smith Jr. stands at the center of the initial backlash, with the burner account's distrustful comment undermining the mentorship role Durant was expected to fulfill. Houston brought in the veteran forward with high hopes for leadership, but the leaked chats suggest underlying tensions that could erode team cohesion.
The screenshots extend beyond Smith Jr., with the anonymous profile allegedly targeting Durant's former Phoenix Suns teammates as well. According to reports from The Liberty Line, the messages reveal deeper frustrations from Durant's time in Phoenix.
One particularly revealing alleged quote from the account reads: "The Suns are my team when we lose and Book's team when we win." This jab appears to reference Suns guard Devin Booker, highlighting perceived inconsistencies in team loyalty during Durant's tenure there.
As the messages continue to circulate widely online, questions about trust within the Rockets' locker room have become unavoidable. The extension signed just months ago now faces scrutiny amid doubts about whether Durant can effectively guide the team's youth movement.
Neither Durant nor the Rockets have publicly commented on the leaks, leaving fans and analysts to speculate on the authenticity of the screenshots and their potential impact on Houston's championship aspirations.
