Kevin Durant opened up about his midseason trade saga in Phoenix, revealing that he first learned he was being shopped “around February” during the 2024–25 season. Speaking at the Game Plan Sports Business Summit in Los Angeles, Durant said the news initially upset him because he felt a strong relationship with the Suns.
Durant described the trade talks as a fast-moving process complicated by the approaching February 6 trade deadline. “Initially, I was a little upset because I felt like we built a solid relationship, me and the Phoenix Suns,” Durant said, via Hoops Rumors. “And to hear that from a different party was kind of upsetting, but that’s just the name of the game.”
The 36-year-old confirmed that the Golden State Warriors showed interest in bringing him back, but he and business partner Rich Kleiman shut down the possibility. Durant emphasized the value of his league-wide relationships and past experience in Golden State in guiding the decision.
Durant remained with Phoenix through the end of the season but missed the final seven games due to an ankle injury sustained on March 30. The Suns finished 11th in the Western Conference and failed to make the postseason, further fueling speculation about his future.
Once the summer began, Durant’s trade market reopened. Houston, San Antonio, and Miami were reportedly his preferred destinations, while Minnesota also expressed interest. A deal with the Rockets was finalized in June, sending Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the 10th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Khaman Maluach, to Phoenix.
“Since me being on the market in February, people were just kind of seeing how their seasons played out and what they needed for their teams,” Durant said. “We knew we would revisit that right around the summertime, and Houston kind of jumped on, and it happened pretty fast from there.”
During the 2024–25 season, Durant led the Suns in scoring, averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists over 62 games. His absence in the final seven contests coincided with a 1–6 stretch for Phoenix, highlighting his impact on the team.
Durant, a 12-time All-Star, achieved multiple milestones that season, including reaching 30,000 career points and joining LeBron James as the only players to score 40 against all 30 active NBA teams. His next chapter in Houston is expected to add veteran leadership and scoring to the Rockets’ roster.
