Is the Kevin Durant Burner Account Conversation a Hoax? Inside the $90 Million Frame-Job That Could Sink the Rockets

Someone may be trying to destroy Kevin Durant's reputation with fabricated screenshots.

And it might be working.

Leaked messages allegedly from a burner account tied to the Houston Rockets star exploded across social media during NBA All-Star Weekend. The posts reportedly showed Durant insulting teammates Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün in private group chats. One alleged message read: 'I can't trust Jabari to make a f***in shot or get a stop.'

The backlash hit fast. Fans questioned Durant's leadership. Analysts debated whether Houston's locker room could survive. Memes flooded X.

But here's what most coverage missed: zero evidence confirms these screenshots are real.

Durant's Circle Says It's Fake

Streamer NEON, who knows Durant personally, addressed the controversy during a 16 February livestream.

'That was not him,' NEON said, according to The Express Tribune. 'I saw what we all saw on Twitter about KD. He would never do some sh*t like that. He would never. Ever. He would never hate on his teammates. That's just not the type of guy he is. I know him personally.'

Other associates backed the denial. According to BlackSportsOnline, at least one person close to Durant publicly stated he denied owning the account.

That's not nothing. Durant engages critics directly on his verified profile all the time. He doesn't hide. So, why would he suddenly need anonymous accounts to attack the guys he shares a locker room with?

No Verification. None.

This is the part that should give everyone pause.

No forensic analysis of the screenshots has been released. No platform authentication. No IP confirmation. No verified metadata linking the @gethigher77 account to Durant.

Screenshots prove nothing on their own. Anyone with basic editing skills can fabricate group chat messages. Social media impersonation happens constantly with high-profile athletes.

BlackSportsOnline's own analysis estimated the likelihood that Durant owns the account at roughly 50%.

But their report added something more telling: 'Even if the account is Durant's, there is a high probability that many, if not all, of the more salacious messages have been faked.'

The Timing Points to a Motive

Here's where it gets suspicious.

The leaks dropped on 15 February during All-Star Weekend, timed for maximum exposure. But they didn't appear randomly. According to BlackSportsOnline, the screenshots surfaced immediately after a heated public exchange about Durant's investment in Skydio, a US drone company facing criticism over reported sales to Israeli defence forces.

The person who first shared the leaked messages? The same individual who had just attacked Durant over that investment in the preceding thread.

Frame-jobs need a motive. This timing provides one. Someone angry about Durant's business dealings may have manufactured or manipulated these messages to damage him publicly.

Why Houston Can't Ignore This

Real or fake, the damage is already spreading.

The Rockets bet their championship window on Durant. They traded Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the No. 10 draft pick to Phoenix in a seven-team deal last July, according to ESPN. Then they signed Durant to a $90 million (£66 million) extension in October 2025.

He earns $54.7 million (£40 million) this season. The extension guarantees another $90 million (£66 million) through 2027-28. That's serious money for a 37-year-old expected to mentor Houston's young core.

Smith Jr. and Şengün were supposed to learn from Durant. Build chemistry. Grow into championship players under his guidance.

Now they've seen screenshots, real or not, claiming Durant can't trust them. That changes things. Locker rooms run on trust. Once doubt creeps in, it spreads.

What Happens Next

Durant hasn't said a word publicly. Neither have the Rockets.

The 15-time All-Star's history with burner accounts makes him an easy target. His 2017 slip-up, when he accidentally tweeted in third person from his verified account while defending himself, created a vulnerability that anyone could exploit.

He admitted to using burners afterward. Joked about it. Leaned into it. That openness now works against him because every accusation sounds plausible, even without proof.

Someone may have weaponised that history. Fabricated messages. Leaked them at the perfect moment. And watched the internet do the rest.

The question Houston needs answered isn't whether Durant runs burner accounts. It's whether these specific screenshots are authentic. Until verified evidence emerges, treating them as real remains reckless.

And if they're fake? Someone just tried to blow up a $90 million (£66 million) investment with photoshop and good timing.