NBA Legend Ralph Sampson Doesn’t Hold Back on Houston Rockets Trading for Kevin Durant

NBA legend Ralph Sampson recently opened up about the Houston Rockets trading for Kevin Durant.

Sampson, the first pick in the 1983 NBA Draft by the Rockets, believes Durant is a “great fit” for Houston.

“I love KD and he’ll teach those young guys how to be a professional,” Sampson told Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. “I think it’s a great fit. It should extend his career. They should give him more money and more contracts because I think he’s isn’t going to have to play as hard, but he can play smart and preserve his body for the playoffs.”

The Rockets traded Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick in this year’s NBA Draft and five second-round picks to the Phoenix Suns for Durant on July 6.

A future Hall of Famer, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.2 blocks last season in 62 games. He shot 52.7% from the floor, 43.0% from 3 and 83.9% from the free-throw line for the Suns, who missed the playoffs.

The Rockets, coached by Ime Udoka, made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2020. They lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round in seven games.

A 15-time All-Star, Durant enters next season with career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.1 blocks with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. He won back-to-back championships and Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018 with Golden State.

Durant turns 37 in September. He has won only two playoff series (2021, 2023) since leaving the Warriors for the Nets in 2019.

A top 75 player of all time, Kevin Durant is a four-time scoring champion and a one-time MVP. He will start next season alongside Fred VanVleet, Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr.