Kevin Durant’s time with the Phoenix Suns appeared to be over even before the last season concluded. Reports from the last months revealed that the team has been active in trying to send him out. Had this gone down, he would have found himself back with the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry.
KD first talked about the possible trade to Warriors last month. This would have shocked the NBA world. They first came together in 2016 after Dubs lost the 2016 title to the Cleveland Cavaliers. They just became indestructible in the next two seasons, winning the next two championships before they were broken up in 2019 that was riddled by injuries to key players, eventually losing in the Finals to the Toronto Raptors.
That was also a controversial stint by KD. Warriors were also criticized for the move. Running it back in mid 2024-25 season, however, appeared attractive as both the Suns and the Warriors were very much capable of winning a title. Golden State just needs one more star to become complete.
KD was upset that he is being shipped to other teams as he was very much committed to their current season. He also mad that they were talking to his former team.
“I heard Golden State was in the mix around the trade deadline,” Durant told CNBC.
“That’s when Rich came into play, and those relationships that we built around the league, and also playing in Golden State helped, and we were able to tell them to hold off on that.”
The trade did not go down but the Suns missed the playoffs eventually. He was then traded to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and several draft picks.
Kevin Durant talked to Stephen Curry
Player empowerment in the NBA has been around since 2010s and when stars talk to each other, it is usually about coming together to win the title. That’s not the case this time around for Durant and Curry.
The Rockets star revealed in Netflix documentary Starting 5 that he approached the two-time MVP about the news of them reuniting and laid down his points to say that it won’t be a good development for both of them.
“No fucking way they tryna do this shit behind my back… But don’t send me to the Warriors… I told Steph [Curry] ‘I don’t think it’s a smart move for either one of us basketball-wise”
Kevin Durant on not wanting to go to the Warriors at the deadline 🗣️
— LoonMuse⚜️ (@KevonLooneyMuse) October 17, 2025
Durant added that he was aware that he was the only tradeable asset. However, he did not like it that he will not have a say.
“I know I’m the guy if (expletive) was going south, I’d be the easiest to trade, but don’t send me to the Warriors,” he continued.
“Make it somewhere else but the Warriors. I didn’t want to go back to the storyline and I don’t want to go there and gut the whole team. First of all, I don’t even want to get traded.”
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