Kevin Durant just defended Houston Rockets’ notoriously late fans. And the internet wasn’t buying it.
The Rockets star found himself in damage control Tuesday night after a viral clip showed Toyota Center looking half-empty during tip-off against the Bulls. Right now, the controversial footage is viral online with KD’s name.
Durant took notice and clapped back with a classic H-Town excuse.
Kevin Durant Explains Why Rockets’ Arena Looked Empty at Tip-Off
Kevin Durant scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Houston Rockets beat the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night. At 37, he continues to score in front of a filled arena, averaging 26.1 points per game.
But this Tuesday was different. The X account BrickCenter first shared the almost empty arena with the caption, “The Rockets have Kevin Durant and the seats are EMPTY.”
Durant didn’t let the slander slide, jumping in the reply section to defend Houston’s fashionably late fanbase.
“We’re fashionably late down here champ,” Durant wrote. “Check back round mid 2nd quarter and it’s a different picture. Been that way in Houston since I been in the League.”
We’re fashionably late down here champ. Check back round mid 2nd quarter and it’s a different picture. Been that way in Houston since I been in the League https://t.co/T2Ytt6AaHp
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 14, 2026
Quite frankly, he’s not wrong about the history. Toyota Center attendance patterns have remained this way for years — thin at tip-off, gradually filling up by the second quarter.
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According to the official report, about 18,055 saw the Rockets beat the Bulls 119-113 in a hard-fought game. It is worth noting that the Rockets’ arena can hold 18,104. So the building did eventually fill up. But fans are neither buying KD’s defense nor the official report.
Fans Call Out Durant’s Defense of Houston’s Late-Arriving Crowd
Durant’s tweet was sweet enough, but he got some terrible replies from ruthless fans because they weren’t buying the “fashionably late” narrative.
One fan wrote, “It’s the 4th and there’s nobody there brother lol.”
Another fan replied, “Yea I swear guys so many people show up to my game. Yea 2nd quarter everyone comes… And I just be like really guys?! fashionably late again?”
The third added, “Sweet effort but nahh Rockets’ crowd culture is very inadequate. Those seats look empty even in the clutch, and we’re probably the team that puts the least pressure on the refs itl. Passion is the real problem there. Unfortunately.”
A fourth claimed, “Interesting to se KD on the rockets and still so many empty seats.”
The fifth penned, “4th quarter and it’s completely empty.”
So, Durant cannot defend it all he wants, despite improving the Rockets’ record to 23-14 because Houston’s crowd has never matched the energy of playoff atmospheres in places like Boston, Philly, or Denver.
