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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo 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. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
New York Post
9 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Kevin Durant quickly responds after Demarcus Cousins claims Suns had ‘fist fights' in locker room
The Suns were a mess this season, but Kevin Durant is refuting that they were fist fights-in-the-locker-room levels of messy. Former All-NBA center and four-time All Star Demarcus Cousins said on 'Run it Back' Friday that there were 'absolutely' fist fights in the Phoenix locker room this past season. Where Cousins got this information from is unclear, but for Durant, he was actually in the Suns locker room. Advertisement 'I have to contest this 94 footer,' Durant posted to X in response to Cousins' claims. 'This some bulls–t to throw on us. Yea yea yea we were trash this year ha ha ha but we NEVER got close to this. NEVER.' 4 Kevin Durant is more than likely going to be on a new team next season. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post Durant has become known for never backing down from arguments on X, as he often calls out fans and reporters on misinformation or opinions he disagrees with. So, it wasn't too shocking to hear from him after Cousins' 'bullsh–t' reports. Advertisement While Cousins' claims about the locker-room fights were quickly refuted by Durant, he certainly had some other valid criticisms of the Suns' season during his segment of the show. 4 Demarcus Cousins spoke on some reports he heard that there were fist fights in the Suns' locker room this past season — Run It Back's X has since deleted the clip. FanDuel TV's Run It Back 'Phoenix was a bad situation from the jump,' he said. 'They put a team together based off names. It was never a team that made sense. You just put a bunch of scorers together and then threw some other names on and said 'Go win a championship.' That's not how the game of basketball works.' Phoenix deployed a star trio of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, yet finished 11th in the Western Conference and failed to even win 40 games. Advertisement 4 The Suns' big three with Devin Booker (1), Kevin Durant (35) and Bradley Beal (3) did not work out well. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Now, Durant essentially has one foot out the door with an offseason trade looming, while Beal is essentially an unmovable piece with his limited production on a $250-million contract that still has two years remaining. Cousins spent 11 years in the NBA and was a dominant force for many of them before suffering an achilles injury that derailed his career. In 2018-19, he played 30 games with the Warriors alongside Durant. 4 Demarcus Cousins spent a season with Kevin Durant on the Warriors. Getty Images Advertisement He went viral last week for his shocking altercations with unruly fans in the Puerto Rican Professional Basketball League.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Kevin Durant responds sharply as fist fight rumors drag Phoenix Suns deeper into chaos
(Image Source - Getty Images) The Phoenix Suns are already under the spotlight for a lackluster season, but a new twist just added heat. DeMarcus Cousins dropped a claim about locker room fist fights—and Kevin Durant fired back without holding back. As trade rumors swirl and a franchise hits reset, this latest drama could reshape everything. Kevin Durant fires back after DeMarcus Cousins droping bombshell In the past few days, ex-NBA star DeMarcus Cousins made headlines by stating that the Phoenix Suns "had a couple of fist fights" in their locker room while on Run It Back. Cousins claimed that the rumors were rooted in insider knowledge, asserting that actual physical fights had taken place—and he noted that the toxicity "carries over to the court." Given that the franchise is already reeling from a poor 36–46 season and no playoff appearance, these claims only added fuel to the fire of speculation regarding deeper dysfunction. Kevin Durant wasn't having any of it. On June 20, 2025, he took to X to deliver a swift, cutting rebuttal — "I have to contest this 94-footer…we were trash this year ha ha ha but we NEVER got close to this. NEVER". Aside from the brawl, Phoenix is dealing with a lot of instability. The Suns racked up 46 losses, missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020, and let go of head coach Mike Budenholzer after just one season. At the same time, the team's star trio—Kharlé Beal ($50.2M), Devin Booker ($49.2M), and Durant ($49.86M)—made up the highest-paid starting lineup in the NBA , but they couldn't even snag a play-in spot. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo The outcome? Soaring expectations, fading patience, and heavy pressure on the future of the franchise. With the trade chatter ramping up—Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves are regular contenders—Durant's statements are gaining importance. As teams scramble for an edge, the star's public reaction to the rumors makes it clear: he's not going to stand for any fake drama. But this might only be the tip of the iceberg. Also Read: The Los Angeles Lakers took a risk on Luka Doncic and now the weight of that decision is starting to show Kevin Durant's strong public rejection of locker room brawls might not change the Suns' challenging season, but it clearly separates genuine problems from exaggerated gossip. As Phoenix starts fresh—with a new coach, a hefty payroll, and possible trade chaos—Durant has taken charge of the story. After finishing his 36‑46 season with straightforward honesty, the focus now turns to what lies ahead: rebuilding trust, team chemistry—and fingers crossed, victories. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Panthers win Stanley Cup: Get the latest gear to celebrate repeat champions!
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. The Florida Panthers are the kings of the NHL once again! The Panthers have made hockey history, becoming the ninth franchise since the 1967 expansion to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. Florida complete its series victory with a 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on June 17, cementing its spot in hockey lore. Advertisement And now you can get the gear to represent the Panthers and Get the latest Panthers Stanley Cup championship apparel! Just like last year, the Panthers dispatched the in-state rival Tampa Bay Lightning before taking down the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final. Then, once again matched up against the Oilers, featuring superstar Connor McDavid. And yet again, the Panthers emerged victorious, When is Florida Panthers Stanley Cup championship parade? A few hours after the Cup-clinching victory, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported that Fort Lauderdale Mayer Dean Trantalis is tentatively planning for the celebration parade to be Sunday, June 22, similar to last season. Last year, the parade was held on Sunday, June 30, in Fort Lauderdale down Florida A1A. Get your Florida Panthers Stanley Cup champions commemorative book USA TODAY Sports has produced a 144-page book to look back at this magical 2024-25 season. "Run It Back," is available at and at a discounted price of $31.95 for a limited time. Advertisement Get your Panthers commemorative book! 2025 Stanley Cup Final: Panthers win, 4-2 Game 1: Oilers 4, Panthers 3 (OT) Game 2: Panthers 5, Oilers 4 (2OT) Game 3: Panthers 6, Oilers 1 Game 4: Oilers 5, Panthers 4 (OT)4-2 Game 5: Panthers 5, Oilers 2 Game 6: Panthers 5, Oilers 1 This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Panthers win Stanley Cup: Get gear to celebrate repeat title!
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Edmonton Oilers' loss to Florida Panthers adds to Canada's Stanley Cup drought
Edmonton Oilers' loss to Florida Panthers adds to Canada's Stanley Cup drought Show Caption Hide Caption Florida Panthers capture second straight Stanley Cup The Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers to win their second-straight Stanley Cup. Sports Pulse Connor McDavid helped Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off, but he and his Edmonton Oilers teammates weren't able to end Canada's decades-long Stanley Cup drought after back-to-back years losing in the final to the Florida Panthers. They fell in six games this year after losing in seven games in 2024. The last Canadian team to win the Cup was the 1993 Montreal Canadiens. "We lost to a really good team," McDavid told reporters after the Game 6 loss. "Nobody quit, nobody threw in the towel in, they're a really good team. They're Stanley Cup champions back to back for a reason." The Oilers went into the final at a disadvantage because Zach Hyman had season-ending surgery. They had trouble handling the Panthers' forechecking and generating offense. "We kept trying the same thing over and over again and banging our heads against the wall," McDavid said. Edmonton won the opener and staged a major rally in Game 4 to tie the final at 2-2, then lost the next two games and the series. Run It Back! Celebrate Florida Panthers' back-to-back Stanley Cups with our commemorative hardcover book "We kept saying we wanted to try to win a 2-1 game and never found a way to do that obviously," McDavid said. "They got great players. How many guys had 20-plus points in the postseason? They're as deep as they come." Goalie Stuart Skinner said the Panthers' consistency is what won the series. "We need to learn from this right now," said Skinner, who was in net for Game 6 after backup Calvin Pickard started in Game 5. "Letting it happen two times in a row is devastating." The Oilers started strong in Game 6 but couldn't dent Sergei Bobrovsky. The Panthers took advantage of two mistakes to head to the first intermission with a 2-0 lead. They outscored Edmonton by a total of 9-0 in the first period over the past four games, leaving the Oilers chasing in every game. Sam Reinhart (four goals) added to the Game 6 lead after a Skinner mistake when a "nothing shot" by Carter Verhaeghe went off him and the Panthers quickly converted the rebound. That Stuart Skinner rebound was as bad as it gets… 😬 Sam Reinhart 2+ Goals (+1400) ✅ Odds via @SIASport — Covers (@Covers) June 18, 2025 "He shot it at the blocker side, which was smart. I put it in a spot where I thought it was going to be OK," Skinner said. "Obviously, it wasn't for a second and he (Aleksander Barkov) just shot it on the backside and Reinhart was in a good spot." The Oilers lost McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to injuries down the stretch and didn't have Evander Kane until the postseason. As a result, they started every series except the final on the road. They trailed the Los Angeles Kings 2-0 in the first round but rallied to beat them, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars before falling in the final. "There's no silver lining to this," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. "It's heart-wrenching. It's very difficult to handle right now. … It hurts right now and I don't think it's going to let up for a while."
