Kevin Durant names biggest reason for Houston Rockets move, says if he expected to leave Phoenix Suns 

Kevin Durant says he didn’t expect to leave Phoenix Suns 

Durant played one full season with the Suns before being traded away. He admitted on NBA media day that his time there did not go as expected.

He said, “I wasn’t expecting to leave Phoenix that quickly, but that’s just the nature of the game.”

But after the disaster of last season, it was time to punt on the Durant and Booker partnership. He had an influence over where he would be traded to, and explained that his connection with Head Coach Ime Udoka was one of the main reasons he wanted a move to the Rockets.

Durant has an established history with Udoka. The pair played against each other when Durant first arrived in the NBA, and Udoka was an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets when Durant signed there. 

Durant said, “I quickly just thought about who I was comfortable with, which coaching staff would just let me be me, and understand what I bring to the table.”

Udoka took the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals in 2022 and is a greatly respected coaching mind. Durant cited him as one of the main reasons he signed in Houston. 

He continued: “Ime has always been one of those guys that understood what I brought to the table and my mentality and my approach to the game. He always respected that and gave me my space to be me. So that was one of the first things I thought about.”

Kevin Durant on whether he thinks he will sign an extension with the Houston Rockets

Durant was traded to the Rockets this summer, but his future with the team already has shadows of doubt cast over it. Reports say the Rockets might not extend Durant’s contract, as there is a disconnect between what they think he is worth and what Durant wants.

He was asked whether he thinks a deal will be done this season, to which Durant replied: “I do see myself signing a contract extension. I can’t tell you exactly when that’ll happen. I do see it happening.”

Durant went on to explain why he wants to remain a Rocket, adding: “Seeing the quick progression of this franchise from where it was right after the James Harden and Chris Paul era, seeing when Ime got here and turned it around so fast. 

“I have some connections in the organization, people I work with around the league already. It felt organic and natural coming into the gym and being a Houston Rocket for the first time.

“I always had respect for this coaching staff, this fan base, this state, this city. It feels right.”

Durant spent his one-year college career with the Texas Longhorns and now makes his return to the state for his 19th NBA season. He explained why he thinks the Rockets are a good on-court fit for him.

Durant continued: “Living in Texas, working with some of the people that I worked with before, but also seeing the identity of this team the last few years of playing with length, having size, playing in transition, driving and kicking, switching on defense. I think all that stuff is tailor fit to my game. So, I wanted to play that style, too.”

The talent he possesses means Durant carried title expectations with him everywhere, and that’s certainly the case in Houston. They were the two-seed last season, and have two stars alongside him in Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson. 

Durant picked this team for its basketball fit, so if this stop doesn’t work out for him, he will have no one else to blame.