Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant will miss the team’s next two high-profile matchups due to personal reasons, with unconfirmed rumors suggesting the absence may be paternity-related as the franchise navigates a pivotal Western Conference stretch.
HOUSTON – The Houston Rockets will be without their cornerstone forward Kevin Durant for two crucial games against his former teams, with the NBA community speculating about the nature of an absence that comes at a particularly challenging point in the schedule.
Nov 21, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) reacts after a play during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Toyota Center.
Durant, who has been instrumental in Houston’s surprising 10-4 start and fourth-place standing in the Western Conference, will miss Wednesday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns and Friday’s contest versus the Golden State Warriors—two franchises where the future Hall of Famer built significant portions of his legendary career.
While the team officially listed the absence as due to “personal reasons,” speculation intensified when Phoenix Suns reporter John Gambadoro mentioned on his radio show that he’d heard rumors of Durant potentially becoming a father. It’s crucial to note that Gambadoro explicitly stated this was not a formal report, and no other outlets have corroborated the claim.
The timing has inevitably drawn attention, given Durant’s complicated history with both opponents. Some social media users have jokingly suggested he’s “ducking old rivals,” though most acknowledge the seriousness of a personal matter that would keep a competitor of Durant’s caliber off the court.
Durant’s relationship history adds context to the speculation. His last public relationship was with former WNBA star Monica Wright, to whom he was engaged in 2013 before calling off the engagement the following year. The 15-time All-Star has maintained remarkable privacy about his personal life since.
The Rockets now face the challenge of maintaining their early-season momentum without their second-leading scorer (24.6 points per game). However, the team’s depth and Alperen Şengün’s emergence as an All-Star caliber player provide reason for optimism during Durant’s temporary absence.
As the basketball world awaits clarification, the situation serves as a reminder that even global superstars face personal milestones and challenges that transcend the game itself.