Jalen Williams Doesn't Mince Words on Rockets Trading for Kevin Durant

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 1:40 PM ET

Sunday was a big day in the NBA.

First, the Houston Rockets agreed to acquire Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns.

Then, the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to win the title. OKC won by a final score of 103-91 at home.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had 29 points in Game 7, won the Finals MVP Award. He averaged 30.3 points and 5.6 assists against the Pacers.

Meanwhile, Jalen Williams played his role to a T. The swingman, who had 40 points in Game 5, finished the Pacers-Thunder series averaging 23.6 points and 3.7 rebounds.

On Monday, Williams spoke to "First Take" about winning the championship and he was asked about the Rockets trading for Durant.

Jalen Williams on the Rockets acquiring Kevin Durant from the Suns

"Wherever KD goes, he's gonna change the way a team plays for the better. ... I can care less about what's going on in the NBA besides our parade."

(Via @FirstTake)
pic.twitter.com/vWe42SHjBk
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) June 23, 2025

The Thunder will be heavily favored to win the championship again next season.

The team's core of Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Alex Caruso, Chet Holmgren and Luguentz Dort isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Durant has played for the Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. He hasn’t gotten past the second round of the playoffs since leaving the Warriors in the summer of 2019.

Durant won the 2014 MVP Award and four scoring titles with OKC and back-to-back rings and Finals MVPs with Golden State in 2017 and 2018.

A top 75 player of all time, Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Suns this season in 62 games. The 15-time All-Star shot 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line.

Rockets-Thunder games will certainly be fun to watch next season.

Durant, 36, still gets booed when he returns to OKC since he left the franchise for the Warriors in 2016.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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