Kevin Durant Blamed for Houston Rockets’ Main Problems Last Season

ESPN analyst Tim MacMahon named Kevin Durant as a primary cause of the Houston Rockets' locker room issues and fourth-quarter collapses last season. Speaking on The Hoop Collective podcast alongside Brian Windhorst and Michael C. Wright, MacMahon argued that Durant was placed at the top of the list for both problems after Houston was eliminated in the first round of the 2026 playoffs by the Los Angeles Lakers.

MacMahon noted that the Rockets forced Durant into roles that did not suit his strengths, requiring him to serve as primary initiator and default locker room leader while Fred VanVleet was injured. VanVleet's return is expected to relieve those responsibilities, while Durant holds a player option for the 2027-28 season.