As the NBA trade deadline approached, Kevin Durant made headlines not for a blockbuster trade but for his decision to remain with the Phoenix Suns, rejecting a potential return to the Golden State Warriors.
During an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Durant explained that his decision was focused on not wanting to change teams midseason rather than not wanting to play for the Warriors again. He wants to see what Phoenix can achieve.
“People talk crazy about me all the time,” Durant said. “That’s not the reason why I didn’t come back. I just didn’t want to get traded midway through the season. It was nothing against my time with the Warriors, or I heard it was because I don’t like Draymond. At the end of the day, I just didn’t want to move. And I wanted to see it through with my team in Phoenix.”
Durant, averaging 27.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, clarified that he preferred stability over switching teams midseason. Still, he understood why the Suns evaluated their options, given their 26-28 record, which has placed them 11th in the Western Conference.
“I never planned on leaving or getting traded. I didn’t ask for a trade from Phoenix,” Durant stated, addressing the speculative narratives directly. “But, obviously, when you pay so much for a team, and we’re not playing up to our expectation, someone has to go.”
Durant’s former head coach, Steve Kerr, understood his lack of motivation to return to the Warriors.
“I don’t blame Kevin one bit for not wanting to rerun things here,” Kerr told ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “He took so much s— for like, ‘Oh, you’re jumping on the bandwagon.’ And then he’s Finals MVP two years in a row. It’s like he still gets criticized.”
Durant’s former teammate, Stephen Curry, also commented on the situation, emphasizing the importance of personal choice and peace of mind in making such decisions.
“You need everybody to be all bought in no matter what the history you have. And I respect KD. It’s all about having peace of mind and happiness,” Curry explained. “Neither one of us controlled that [trade] situation. It’s just you want to make sure somebody wants to be somewhere.”
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant against Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Durant’s tenure with the Warriors was marked by immense success, including two championships, but included a sense of otherness due to his free-agent status.
“As time went on, I started to realize I’m just different from the rest of the guys. It’s not a bad thing,” Durant reminisced. “Just my circumstances and how I came up in the league. And on top of that, the media always looked at it like KD and the Warriors. So it’s like nobody could get full acceptance of me there.”
Meanwhile, the Warriors moved on, acquiring Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat, adding another layer of depth to their roster as the deadline passed. Having retained Durant, the Suns now look to recalibrate and push forward, possibly setting the stage for another eventful offseason.
As the season progresses, Durant remains focused on contributing his best, leaving the future to unfold as it will. “I’ll let the higher-ups focus on what’s next,” he concluded.