Getty

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant

Fans were surprised to not see Kevin Durant on the Houston Rockets bench with the rest of the team after he was ruled out for Game 3 of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Durant was questionable entering the game due to his ankle injury, but he got ruled out a couple of hours before opening tipoff. Houston has now missed Durant for two of the first three playoff games.

However, the story took another turn when Durant was not seen with the team on the bench in the first half. Various media members claimed they saw Durant there earlier in the day and he was with the team in the venue. Durant actively chose not to sit with his teammates on the bench tonight and is likely watching the game from the locker room.

It remains a strange scenario since most players sit with their teams when they are ruled out injured. An NBA player sitting with the team allows him to give advice, especially in a scenario like the veteran Durant playing with many young talents. The overall optics also usually sees that player still wanting to be part of the team. Durant instead decided to avoid the bench and watch the game away from the spotlight.

Kevin Durant Already Created Locker Room Issues

The Rockets’ season was impacted by Durant’s alleged burner account leaking during All-Star Weekend. Past incidents have seen Durant exposed for insulting his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammates on a previous burner account.

Durant found his name in the news for wrong reasons when various people accused him of running a Twitter page that insulted his teammates. Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith were personally insulted via the account. Blame was passed to the two from the alleged Durant comments referencing why the team underachieved at various points of the season.

Durant has not confirmed nor denied the story to make it a bigger issue when it happened. The potential story of Durant insulting his teammates is a terrible look, but refusing to sit with your team for a playoff game is even worse. Drama continues to follow Durant with social media and locker room issues.

Rockets Must Figure Out Future Core

Houston had a disappointing season of finishing fifth after last season’s second seed. A bold trade of Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks for Durant made it clear they are planning to contend for an NBA Championship starting this season.

It remains highly unlikely they’ll make a run this season with Durant’s injury and other teams looking far better. Rumors are already circulating about the Rockets planning to offer Sengun and other assets in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The duo of Giannis and Durant would be fascinating, but more trades for the sake of it may be a mistake. Houston must either shop or fully commit to younger talents like Sengun, Smith, Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard this offseason. Durant showing little chemistry with his current Rockets teammates may be enough to force a trade.