Image Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

‘They wanted me to go’ – Kevin Durant Breaks Silence On Phoenix Suns Departure After Houston Rockets Trade

Two-time champion reveals emotions on Suns trade

Image Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Kevin Durant has started a new chapter with the Houston Rockets after being moved in a massive seven-team trade this summer. The two-time NBA champion admitted the move caught him off guard and left mixed emotions about his time with the Phoenix Suns.

In July, the deal was finalized, stunning the NBA world. Kevin Durant himself found out in an unusual fashion, while on stage for an interview at the Fanatics Fest in New York City in front of hundreds of fans. He said he had an idea of where he might land, but never knew when it would become official.

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Kevin Durant Felt Let Down By Suns

Speaking at the CNBC x Boardroom’s GamePlan 2025 Summit, Durant shared that leaving the Phoenix Suns wasn’t easy. “I was a little upset because, you know. I felt like we built a solid relationship, me and the Phoenix Suns,” he said. “To hear that from a different party was kind of upsetting.”

Kevin Durant was traded to Phoenix in 2023, teaming up with Devin Booker in hopes of chasing a title. But the duo failed to advance past the second round, with losses to the Denver Nuggets and later the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The playoff struggles led to frustration among Suns fans, many of whom pointed fingers at Kevin Durant. While he believed he had built meaningful ties with the organization, it became clear the team was ready to move in another direction.

“They wanted me to go. They got what they wanted, and I got what I wanted,” Durant said. “We can move on and good luck to them going forward. Always remember my time there, but we’re going on to something else.”