Kevin Durant has opened up about his frustrations with the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns, explaining why he chose to move on and join the Houston Rockets.
Durant, a two-time NBA champion, revealed to Sports Illustrated that he considered returning to Golden State but felt sidelined by how decisions were made. “It was a certain part of me that just didn’t like that this last little phase of my career… that these owners was just gonna work behind my back to make that decision for me,” he said.
The forward described his displeasure with both franchises, saying, “I just wanted to wash my hands of both of those teams, the Warriors and the Suns. Because I didn’t like how they did business.”
Durant did acknowledge a gesture from Golden State, noting that the Warriors approached him before making moves to include him in potential trades. Still, he felt the overall process didn’t align with the respect he believes he earned over his career.
The 37-year-old spent the 2024–25 season with Phoenix, averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists over 62 games. Despite a strong season, he stayed with the Suns through the trade deadline, passing on a chance to return to his former team in Golden State.
In the summer of 2025, Durant was traded to Houston in a historic seven-team deal, the largest in NBA history, signaling a fresh start for the forward and the Rockets organization.
Durant quickly solidified his commitment to Houston by signing a two-year, $90 million contract extension with a player option for 2027–28 on October 19.
Throughout his 17-year NBA career, Durant has been a prolific scorer, averaging 27.2 points per game over 1,123 regular-season appearances, with 12 All-Star selections. His ability to impact both ends of the floor has made him a consistent MVP candidate and one of the most influential players of his generation.
By moving to Houston, Durant emphasized that he wanted an organization that valued his input and legacy. “Houston was the team that really respected me, respected what I bring to the table and wanted to make this work,” he said, signaling optimism for the next phase of his career.
