When reports surfaced that Kevin Durant had vetoed a trade back to the Golden State Warriors before the deadline, speculation ran wild. Was it lingering tension withDraymond Green? The backlash from fans over his previous stint? Or just a reluctance to relive the past?
Turns out, it was none of the above.
Durant addressed the situation directly in an interview with ESPN, making it clear that his decision wasn’t personal-it was practical.
“I just didn’t want to get traded midway through the season,”Durant said.“It was nothing against my time with the Warriors, or I heard because I don’t like Draymond. At the end of the day, I just didn’t want to move and I wanted to see it through with my team in Phoenix.”
Kerr’s theory vs. Durant’s reality: Why the trade fell apart
Golden State’s head coach, Steve Kerr, had his own take before Durant spoke out. He suggested the backlash Durant faced during his first stint with the Warriors might have played a role. “I don’t blame Kevin one bit for not wanting to rerun things here,”Kerr told ESPN.“He took so much s-t for like, ‘Oh, you’re jumping on the bandwagon.’ And then he’s Finals MVP two years in a row, and he still gets criticized.”
While Kerr’s theory made sense, Durant shot it down. He insisted it wasn’t about narratives, critics, or past drama. He simply wanted to stay in Phoenix and see how far the Suns could go this season.
The proposed trade, which would have involved the Warriors, Suns, and Heat, ultimately fell apart. With Durant off the table, Golden State pivoted to pursuing Jimmy Butler instead. The Heat star was reportedly open to a move, and the Warriors eventually landed him, signing him to a two-year, $111 million extension.
As for Durant, he made it clear he’s not looking to jump ship again. “I’m glad I’m still here,”he said. After being traded from Brooklyn in 2023, he’s determined to give this Suns team a real shot. With the playoffs approaching, all eyes will be on whether that decision pays off.
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