The trade of All-Star forward Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets came as a surprise to many NBA observers – including Durant himself.
The four-time scoring champion and 2014 NBA MVP was on stage for an interview session on the final day of Fanatics Fest in New York City when he found out he was being dealt to Houston.
In return, the Suns will receive Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks, USA TODAY Sports has confirmed.
Even Durant wasn’t sure the news was real.
‘We’re gonna see man,’ Durant said. ‘We’re gonna see.’
After he was reassured the deal was, in fact, real, Durant became a bit more philosophical with the trade speculation finally coming to an end.
‘Crazy, crazy last couple weeks,’ he told interviewer Kay Adams. ‘But I’m glad it’s over with.’
As for the situation in Phoenix, Durant said the Suns did welcome his input on finding his next destination.
“They wanted me to go. … They got what they wanted, and I got what I wanted,’ Durant said. ‘We can move on and good luck to them going forward. Always remember my time there, but we’re going on to something else.’
Kevin Durant’s previous trades
This marks the third time in his career Durant has been traded.
The Golden State Warriors traded him and a first-round draft pick to the Brooklyn Nets in July 2019 for Treveon Graham, Shabazz Napier and D’Angelo Russell.
The Nets sent him to Phoenix in February 2023 as part of a four-team blockbuster with the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers.