What happened between Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins? Phoenix Suns' locker room debate explained
Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins. Image via: Justin Ford | Dylan Buell | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns' turbulent 2024–25 NBA season took another dramatic turn when DeMarcus Cousins claimed that the team's issues extended far beyond the court. According to the former All-Star center, things got so bad behind closed doors that players actually came to blows in the locker room.
But Suns forward Kevin Durant, already facing rumors of a potential trade, wasted no time denying the claim, and what followed was a public exchange that has stirred even more questions about what really went wrong in Phoenix.
Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins clash over locker room chaos claims
During an appearance on Run It Back, DeMarcus Cousins didn't hold back when describing what he heard about the Suns' inner turmoil. 'There was a lot of things that happened,' Cousins said. 'There was a lot of things that haven't been reported.
I don't wanna be the guy to report it, but I've definitely heard of some negative things in the locker room. There was a couple of fistfights. There was a lot going on that obviously carries over to the court.
'
Kevin Durant responded within hours on social media, vehemently denying the report. 'I have to contest this 94 footer,' Durant wrote on X. 'This some bullshit to throw on us. Yea yea yea we were trash this year ha ha ha but we NEVER got close to this.
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NEVER.'
Cousins then doubled down, insisting his source was a current Suns player. 'The source was one of your teammates killa. And I wasn't referring to you! Save this s--t for the others homie…' he wrote in reply. Despite this, Durant dismissed the credibility of the source altogether, 'Whoa whoa Boog, I don't want no problems with you or anybody on earth. I Promise, all I'm saying is your source is lying.'
While their back-and-forth became the center of attention, Cousins made it clear that he wasn't placing blame on Durant for the Suns' disappointing year.
'For him to be the blame of negative seasons they've had is completely unfair,' he said.
Cousins went further in his critique of the roster itself: 'Phoenix was a bad situation from the jump. They put a team together based off names... That's not how the game of basketball works.'
The Suns finished 36-46, failed to make the playoffs, and fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after just one season.
Also Read:
NBA champion Kevin Durant expands partnership with QSI after buying stakes in Paris Saint-Germain
Even with the team's dysfunction, Durant's individual numbers remained elite. In 62 games, he averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and shot 52.7% from the field. ESPN's Shams Charania reported on The Pat McAfee Show that the Suns are actively exploring trade options for Durant, with the Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves among the frontrunners.
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