Kevin Durant was linked to a possible return to the Golden State Warriors ahead of the trade deadline, but the Phoenix Suns star ultimately decided to stay put.
Speaking on The Draymond Green Show, Durant explained why he rejected the idea of reuniting with his former team.
“And then there are the narratives that come with all of that,” Durant said, via HoopsHype. “People saying, ‘Oh, you don’t want to play with Draymond anymore,’ or ‘You don’t want to go back.’ That stuff is annoying—I don’t like it.”
Despite the speculation surrounding his future, Durant made it clear that his decision was based on basketball, not outside noise.
“For me, it was just about whether making that big of a change right now made sense. And it didn’t,” Durant added.
The Suns reportedly explored trades involving Durant in an effort to acquire Jimmy Butler, but no deal materialized.
Golden State, which ultimately landed Butler instead, had emerged as a potential landing spot for the two-time NBA champion.
However, Durant expressed confidence in the Warriors’ current trajectory and did not see the move as the right fit.
“Look at what y’all are doing right now, Dre—y’all looking good. Jimmy, and then you still got C on the way back. I just didn’t think it made sense,” Durant said.
Durant, 36, has continued to perform at a high level, averaging 26.9 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 36.8 minutes per game this season.
Despite his production, Phoenix has struggled, sitting at 27-31 and 11th in the Western Conference. The Suns have lost eight of their last ten games and face an uphill battle to secure a playoff spot.
Meanwhile, the Warriors (31-27) have surged in the standings since acquiring Butler, winning seven of their last ten games. Golden State now sits in eighth place and is positioning itself for a strong postseason push.
Durant, who won two championships with the Warriors from 2016 to 2019, left the franchise to join the Brooklyn Nets in 2019.
A potential reunion with Green and Stephen Curry would have sparked major storylines, but Durant opted to stay in Phoenix.
His decision leaves the Suns searching for answers as they attempt to turn their season around. With Devin Booker and Bradley Beal also in the lineup, Phoenix has yet to find the consistency needed to compete in the loaded West.
The Suns’ struggles have fueled speculation about their long-term direction and whether further roster changes are needed.
