What Kevin Durant Said About Leaving the Suns

Kevin Durant begins a new chapter in his career after joining the Houston Rockets, his fifth NBA team, as part of a historic trade that involved seven franchises. The move was finalized in July while KD was at the Fanatics Fest in New York, right in the middle of an interview in front of hundreds of fans.

Although Durant suspected he would end up leaving Phoenix, he admitted at the CNBC x Boardroom GamePlan 2025 Summit that the way he found out bothered him. He said he had built a good relationship with the Suns and felt disappointed to learn about the trade through other channels.

Durant had joined Phoenix in 2023 from the Brooklyn Nets to team up with Devin Booker. But the pairing didn’t deliver the expected success. The Suns lost in the Western Conference semifinals to the Denver Nuggets, and the following year they were eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Those playoff disappointments led many fans to point fingers at Durant. While he believed he had a strong connection with the organization, he realized the same wasn’t true with the fanbase. 

He explained that the fans wanted him gone, they got what they wanted, and so did he. He added that both sides can move forward, wishing them well but stressing that he has entered a new stage.

With 17 seasons of experience in the NBA, Durant is no stranger to the business side of the sport. He noted that this is simply how the game works, and said he quickly moved on to think about the next steps.

Now those steps are clear: becoming a key piece for the Rockets. Durant emphasized that he isn’t chasing labels or titles. He said he sees himself as just another member of the team, not worried about being the greatest of all time or who might be watching him in practice. His focus, he explained, is simply on being at the level required and contributing like anyone else.