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Magic Johnson Makes Strong Prediction After Kevin Durant Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Jun 22, 2025 5:05 PM ET

The NBA witnessed a blockbuster deal on Sunday that sent Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets, marking a seismic shift in the league landscape.

It caps a disappointing campaign in the desert while instantly elevating Houston’s championship aspirations, a point underscored later that day by Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson.

Posting on X, Johnson wrote, "Two-time NBA Champion and future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant being traded to Houston will make Rockets one of the favorites in West next season."

Houston finished with a 52-30 record, clinching the Southwest Division and securing the No. 2 seed in the conference, only to get bounced in the first round by the Golden State Warriors.

Two-time NBA Champion and future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant being traded to Houston will make Rockets one of the favorites in West next season.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 22, 2025

Under coach Ime Udoka, the Rockets boasted a balanced attack led by All-Star Alperen Şengün, Amen Thompson, Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, the latter two of whom were traded away in the Durant deal.

Houston battled back from a 3-1 series hole against the Golden State Warriors to force Game 7, ultimately falling short in the first round.

After acquiring Durant in 2023 to join Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, Phoenix underwhelmed in 2024-25, going 36-46 and finishing 11th in the West, missing both the playoffs and the play-in tournament.

Despite this, Durant posted strong averages (26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game), making his 15th NBA All-Star team.

Durant now joins a core already featuring Şengün, Thompson and VanVleet, making the Rockets instantly one of the NBA’s most dangerous offenses and, in Johnson's eyes, a leading pick for Western Conference supremacy.

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

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