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Kevin Durant Breaks Silence on Why He Wanted to Get Traded to Rockets

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ashish Mathur | Last updated Jun 22, 2025 3:36 PM ET

The Phoenix Suns are trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in this year’s draft and five second-round picks.

Durant, who has one year left on his contract, wanted to get traded to the Rockets. He was able to control his trade situation despite not having a no-trade clause in his contract.

A top 75 player of all time, Durant spoke with Kay Adams at Fanatics Fest in New York after the news broke of the blockbuster trade. Adams asked Durant why he wanted to get traded to the Rockets and the NBA legend gave a simple answer.

"They just had a great season last year," Durant said. "Love their leadership. And I felt like I'd be a good addition."

The Rockets had the second-best record in the West this season. Now, they are adding one of the top scorers of all time.

Durant is eighth in NBA history in points and sixth in points per game.

A two-time Finals MVP, 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 and future Hall of Famer shot 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line.

The Rockets now have Durant, Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. and Fred VanVleet. They could be title contenders next season.

Durant won the 2014 MVP Award and four scoring titles with the Oklahoma City Thunder and back-to-back titles and Finals MVPs with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.

A Texas product, Durant has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 1,123 NBA games.

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

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