Report: Rockets Players 'Regret' Team Trading for Kevin Durant

The Houston Rockets made a blockbuster move last offseason that drastically changed the face of their team. Trading away Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to bring in Kevin Durant was a massive 'home run' swing. As of now, the jury is still out on that decision.

The Rockets finished last season with the 2-seed in the Western Conference, at 52-30 (.634 winning percentage). This season, through 70 games, they are at 43-27, that's 20 percentage points worse, at a .614 win pct.

The Phoenix Suns, on the other hand, have gone from an also-ran, finishing below .500 and in the 11-seed last season, have vaulted up to the 7-seed, at 39-21.

As for the big Rockets addition, Kevin Durant, sure, he's putting up his usual big numbers at 25.7 points per game and 40.8% from three-point range, along with the other stat-sheet stuffing he does. But according to a report, it doesn't sound like he's melded with the team as much as would have been hoped.

Some members of the Houston Rockets reportedly regret the Kevin Durant trade

“A lot of guys miss Jalen and Dillon”, “Kevin hasn’t bonded with anyone here yet.”

(via @AhnFireDigital) pic.twitter.com/1lBRvpjEjN
— Hoops Alerts (@TheHoopsAlerts) March 21, 2026

Ashish Mathur of AHN Fire Digital reports that some members of the Rockets "regret the Kevin Durant trade."

'A lot of guys miss Jalen and Dillon,' one source said. 'Kevin hasn’t bonded with anyone here yet.

One of the biggest issues, according to Mathur, is that the Rockets miss the vocal leadership of Fred VanVleet, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear after the Durant trade. Had the Rockets known they wouldn't have had FVV, they might not have brought in Durant. That leadership role is something that "Durant has never wanted on his teams," quotes Mathur.

Vibes around the Durant & the Rockets have been 'awkward and tense'

"Vibes around the Rockets have been 'awkward and tense' since the 2026 All-Star Game, sources said," according to Mathur. And a lot of it seems to be centered around the social media 'burner accounts' controversy. KD was said to be behind the burner accounts that have criticized Rockets' players Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr.

Durant has denied it, but, "most players and high-ranking officials in Houston believe Durant is behind the burner accounts, sources said."

The Rockets are just 5-5 in their last 10 games, and have fallen a couple of games behind the Lakers for the 3-seed in the West, while the Denver Nuggets are now only a half-game back of Houston for home court in the first round.