Kevin Durant did not celebrate quietly on Monday night. He chose honesty instead. The Rockets star drilled a deep game-winning three against Phoenix, then unloaded postgame emotion that had clearly been sitting for months. What looked like a routine January win quickly turned personal once Durant explained why beating the Suns felt different.
Houston’s 100-97 win was tight, physical, and tense until the final second. But the lasting image was Durant standing at the podium, reflecting on a breakup he never wanted. According to him, Phoenix did not just trade him, but pushed him out. And that framing instantly lit up fan debate across social media.
Kevin Durant Thinks the Sun Made Him the Scapegoat
The moment came with 1.1 seconds left Monday night at Toyota Center. With the score tied, Durant caught the inbound, took two dribbles, and buried a 27-footer over Royce O’Neale to seal the win. He finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds as Houston moved to 22-11.
After the game, Durant said the shot carried extra weight because of how his Phoenix tenure ended. He described feeling unwanted and blamed for failures that extended beyond him.
“It feels good to play against a team that booted you out of the building and scapegoated you for all the problems they had,” Durant said. “And it hurt because I put all my effort and love and care towards the Suns and the Phoenix area and Arizona in general.”
*I just knew it was going up after I came out the huddle."
Kevin Durant on his game winner 3 to top his former team.
"It feels good to play against a team that booted out of the building and scapegoat-ed you for all the problems that they had and it hurts because I put all my… pic.twitter.com/qdguidaj8S
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 6, 2026
Two and a half years ago, KD landed in Phoenix after leaving Brooklyn in early 2023. Though he earned All-Star nods twice while posting solid stats, the Suns stalled every postseason, never moving beyond round two. Their 2024 playoff run ended quickly, and last year, they didn’t qualify at all. Shifting coaches and uneven team makeup stirred change, which eventually moved Durant to Houston through a summer deal.
Durant said he never asked out. He framed the move as his first experience being forced out of a situation he believed in.
“A place that I didn’t want to leave,” he said. “My first time being kicked out of a place.”
Phoenix, now 21-15, was led by Devin Booker’s 27 points. Houston won despite Durant going just 2 of 12 from three. His final shot was only his second make from deep.
Durant later softened the edge, calling it business and insisting the emotion would not linger. Still, his words traveled fast. Fans immediately weighed in, with many calling the comments excessive while others backed his frustration.
A fan said, “KD is being way too dramatic. I don’t think I’ve seen a single Suns fan blame him for the past couple of years, dude was still ballin’ when he was here. We did, however, blame Beal and that god awful trade…THAT was what screwed the Suns.”
Another said, “Worst thing that happened to the suns.”
A person remarked, “he just mad the suns became way better the second he left lol.”
Another folk said, “Least favorite Suns player ever!!”
A fan chimes in, “Well, he is right, tho. As Suns fans, we really did badly. He wanted to be a sun alongside a book.”
One thing is clear. For Durant, this was not just another January game. And even if he tries to forget it, Phoenix clearly has not.
