Kevin Durant was not particularly interested in discussing his individual numbers after the Houston Rockets’ impressive 109-93 victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night. The superstar forward instead pushed back against a reporter’s question about his limited shot attempts. Durant insisted that Houston’s collective performance deserved more attention than his personal box score. The exchange offered another glimpse into Durant’s unselfish approach as the Rockets continue their impressive start to the 2026-27 NBA season.
Durant finished with 12 points on just eight field goal attempts. It marked the third time in Houston’s first eight games that he attempted fewer than 10 shots. When reporter Varun Shankar asked about the reduced volume, Durant responded pointedly.
“We won the game. Why are you singling me out?”
KD in a light back and forth with @ByVarunShankar when asked about his lack of shots.
For context, tonight was the third game this season he took less than 10 shots.
“Jabari had 30 last game, he only had 14 tonight. Are you… pic.twitter.com/RMwwf2gDen
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) November 3, 2026
“We won the game. Why are you singling me out?” Durant asked. “Jabari had 30 last game, he only had 14 tonight. Are you going to talk about his variety? Do you have a solo cam on me? We won the basketball game.”
When Shankar clarified that his question was not intended as criticism, Durant doubled down: “Yes you do.”
Article Continues BelowThe response reflects Durant’s evolving role in Houston. Through the early stages of 2026-27, the veteran forward has prioritized team chemistry and efficient offense over individual scoring totals. Operating within Ime Udoka’s balanced system, Durant has willingly sacrificed touches while drawing defensive attention and creating opportunities for teammates.
Alperen Sengun led Houston against Boston with 26 points, demonstrating the offensive balance that has made the Rockets difficult to contain. The victory improved Houston to 7-1, giving it sole possession of first place in the Western Conference.
For Durant, the message was straightforward: winning matters more than shot attempts. And so far, Houston’s approach is delivering results.

