The Houston Rockets are slipping at the wrong time, and franchise legend Vernon Maxwell believes the issue runs deeper than the box score. According to Maxwell, Kevin Durant’s alleged social media activity has fractured the locker room as the team enters a critical stretch of the season.
Houston (41-27) has lost momentum in March, dropping to 4-6 in its last 10 games and sliding to fifth in the Western Conference. With just 15 games remaining, the timing raises concerns about chemistry, identity, and late-season execution. With the Rockets just barely out of the Play-In tournament, only 1.5 games ahead of the Phoenix Suns, playoff positioning is tightening. internal cohesion often separates contenders from early exits.
Maxwell points to off-court tension
Maxwell, who won back-to-back titles with Houston in 1994 and 1995, connected the team’s inconsistency to reports of Durant allegedly using a burner account to criticize teammates. While those claims remain unverified publicly, Maxwell said the damage inside the locker room is already visible.
“Like I said last year, all we need was KD,” Maxwell said on the “All The Smoke” Podcast. “We got KD, a guy to roll the ball out to get you a bucket. But now everybody [is] standing around watching KD.”
Maxwell’s point reflects a shift in Houston’s offensive identity. The Rockets built their post-Harden rebuild on ball movement and young-player development, but recent games suggest a heavier reliance on isolation scoring. He doubled down when discussing the reported social media controversy, explaining why even rumors can create division in a young locker room.
“They said some [expletive] about some secret page KD did and talked about some of the players on the team … it’s [expletive] split the [expletive] guys up,” Maxwell said. “Guys don’t like to high five each other no more.”
That quote highlights the core concern: perception alone can erode trust. For a young core still establishing roles, even unconfirmed tension can disrupt chemistry and communication.
On-court issues reinforce the narrative
Houston’s recent losses support parts of Maxwell’s argument. In Wednesday’s 124-116 loss to the Lakers, Durant finished with just 18 points and attempted only two shots in the fourth quarter. The offense stalled late, and the team struggled to generate consistent spacing.
Durant addressed the shot disparity postgame, pushing back on the idea that his usage was the deciding factor. “Well, it’s a team game,” Durant said. “Me getting two shots shouldn’t matter … I don’t think my two shot attempts lost us this game.”
His response signals a broader issue. The Rockets had six players in double-digit shot attempts, but lacked a clear late-game structure against a defense focused on Durant.
Maxwell’s criticism aligns with additional concerns raised by Matt Barnes, who pointed to the absence of a traditional point guard and declining efficiency. Houston ranks near the bottom of the league in three-pointers made and turnovers, two areas that typically stabilize playoff teams.
Houston’s identity now sits at a crossroads. The presence of a superstar like Durant should elevate the team, but it also places pressure on the supporting cast of Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Reed Sheppard, to capitalize on defensive attention.
Maxwell’s message is blunt, but it carries weight. The Rockets don’t just need better execution, they need alignment. The next 15 games will determine whether this group enters the postseason as a unified contender or a talented team undone by internal disconnect.