Southwest Roundup: Durant Fields Burner Account Questions; Spurs Await Plumlee Debut, Sochan Reflects on San Antonio Exit, Jackson Embraces Aggression
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Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant declined to engage with reports linking him to a burner Twitter account during his first media availability since the All-Star break. The handle @GetHigher77, which surfaced over the weekend, allegedly posted critical comments about former and current teammates, including Suns guard Devin Booker, ex-Suns coach Frank Vogel, Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Warriors coach Steve Kerr, and Rockets center Alperen Şengün and forward Jabari Smith Jr.
“I’m not here to get into Twitter nonsense,” Durant told reporters, adding that he remains focused on the remainder of the season. When asked whether he had addressed the matter with teammates, he said, “My teammates know what it is. We’ve been locked in the whole season.”
In San Antonio, recently signed center Mason Plumlee is still recovering from late-December groin surgery. Head coach Mitch Johnson said the 10-day contract signee will miss the Spurs’ games in Austin on Thursday and Saturday, and no timetable was provided for his first appearance.
Former Spurs lottery pick Jeremy Sochan, introduced Wednesday as a New York Knick, said limited opportunity contributed to his departure from San Antonio. “It’s a deep team,” Sochan noted, adding that he “maybe didn’t see eye-to-eye” with Johnson but is “blessed to be somewhere to grow.”
Memphis forward GG Jackson II credits teammate Scotty Pippen Jr. for urging him to play more physically this season. Pippen said Jackson’s athleticism in practice had not translated to games, prompting veterans to push the third-year wing. The result has been improved scoring efficiency and a stronger defensive presence, highlighted by more frequent dunks in traffic.
Source: Hoops Rumors
