Kevin Durant is going from the Suns
to the Rockets in a blockbuster trade, AP source says
[June 23, 2025]
By TIM REYNOLDS
The Houston Rockets are acquiring 15-time All-Star and four-time
Olympic gold medalist Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns in a
blockbuster deal struck Sunday, a person with knowledge of the
agreement told The Associated Press.
The Rockets are giving up Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and six future
picks — including the No. 10 selection in Wednesday’s opening round
of this year’s draft — according to the person who spoke to the AP
on condition of anonymity because the deal was still pending NBA
approval.
It ends weeks of speculation about where Durant would end up. Many
teams were involved at various times, including Miami and Minnesota,
but in the end Phoenix accepted the Rockets’ offer.
ESPN first reported the trade.
Fans learned of the news while Durant was on stage in New York at
Fanatics Fest NYC, and when they began reacting, Durant started
smiling broadly.
“We're gonna see, man,” Durant said from the stage. “We're gonna
see.”
Boardroom, the ever-growing media company that Durant and his
business partner, Rich Kleiman, co-founded in 2019, teams up with
Fanatics on a number of projects. The panel that Durant was set to
appear on there Sunday was called “Global Game Changers.”
He certainly figures to change the game for the Rockets.
Houston finished No. 2 in the Western Conference in the regular
season, albeit 16 games behind No. 1 Oklahoma City. It now adds a
two-time champion to its young core as it looks to make another jump
next season.
Durant averaged 26.6 points this season, his 17th in the NBA — not
counting one year missed because of injury. For his career, the
6-foot-11 forward is averaging 27.2 points and seven rebounds per
game.
The move brings Durant back to the state of Texas, where he played
his one year of college basketball for the Longhorns and was the
college player of the year before going as the No. 2 pick in the
2007 draft by Seattle.
[to top of second column] |
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant gestures during the second half of
an NBA basketball game on March 9, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio
Cortez, File)
Houston will become his fifth franchise, joining
the SuperSonics (who then became the Oklahoma City Thunder), Golden
State, Brooklyn and Phoenix. Durant won his two titles with the
Warriors in 2017 and 2018, and last summer in Paris he became the
highest-scoring player in U.S. Olympic basketball history and the
first men's player to be part of four gold-medal teams.
Durant is a four-time scoring champion, a two-time Finals MVP and
one of eight players in NBA history with more than 30,000 career
points, joining the club on Feb. 11.
Durant is under contract next season for roughly $50 million before
becoming a free agent in 2026.
His departure from the Suns was expected and ends a disappointing 2
1/2 years in the desert. Durant never enjoyed consistent team
success despite being part of a trio that included star guards Devin
Booker and Bradley Beal.
Durant was acquired by the Suns from the Brooklyn Nets in a
four-team trade-deadline deal in 2023, just days after new owner Mat
Ishbia bought the team for roughly $4 billion. Phoenix gave up a lot
to acquire the then-34-year-old, sending young standouts Mikal
Bridges and Cam Johnson, along with four future first-round picks,
to Brooklyn.
___
AP Sports Writer David Brandt in Phoenix contributed to this report.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
