Kevin Durant is headed to Houston.
In a blockbuster NBA shakeup, the Houston Rockets are buying the 15-time All-Star ahead from the Phoenix Suns for a bundle that features Jalen Inexperienced, Dillon Brooks and the No. 10 decide in Wednesday’s draft, in line with ESPN.
5 second-round picks are additionally headed to Phoenix within the commerce.
Durant, 36, averaged 26.6 factors per recreation on 52.7% taking pictures, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per recreation this season, his seventeenth within the NBA. He shot 43.0% from 3-point vary.
The win-now transfer follows a 12 months wherein the ascendant Rockets (52-30) have been the Western Convention’s No. 2 seed however have been eradicated within the first spherical of the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors.
The commerce reunites Durant with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, who was a Nets assistant throughout Durant’s tenure in Brooklyn.
Durant was collaborating in a Q&A on the Fanatics Fest in Midtown when he discovered of the commerce. He unleashed an enormous smile on the Javits Heart stage.
“Being part of the Houston Rockets, I’m looking forward to it,” Durant mentioned afterward in an interview with Kay Adams. “Crazy, crazy last couple of weeks, but I’m glad it’s over with.”
Durant turns into the battle-tested headliner on a Rockets roster that features 22-year-old All-Star heart Alperen Sengun and one other 22-year-old standout, guard Amen Thompson, whom Houston drafted with the No. 4 decide two years in the past.
Rockets level guard Fred VanVleet, 31, was an All-Star in 2022.
Durant, who performed school basketball at Texas in Austin, mentioned he “most definitely” had a hand in choosing his touchdown spot.
“They had a great season last year,” Durant mentioned of the Rockets. “I love their leadership. I felt like I’d be a good addition.”
The Miami Warmth have been amongst these linked to a possible Durant deal. The San Antonio Spurs, just like the Rockets and Warmth, have been mentioned to be on Durant’s want checklist.
The Rockets are the fifth crew for Durant, who performed for the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Warriors and Nets earlier than the Suns. Durant received a pair of championships with the Warriors earlier than signing with the Nets earlier than the 2019-20 season.
Phoenix had acquired Durant from the Nets in a February 2023 commerce that despatched Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and 4 first-round picks to Brooklyn.
Suns proprietor Mat Ishbia envisioned an enormous three of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal competing for championships, however Phoenix received just one playoff sequence throughout Durant’s tenure.
This 12 months, the Suns missed the postseason at 36-46. Ishiba described the season as “disappointing,” “embarrassing” and a “failure.”
That prompted the Suns to discover a reset, with Durant — who has one 12 months remaining on his contract — representing their finest commerce piece.
Sunday’s deal ends months of hypothesis about the way forward for Durant, who was additionally the topic of rumors earlier than the commerce deadline in February.
“They wanted me to go,” Durant mentioned of the Suns. “They got what they wanted, and I got what I wanted. We can move on, and good luck to them going forward. I’ll always remember my time there, but we’re on to something else.”
The Suns’ return for Durant included two starters on this 12 months’s Rockets crew.
Inexperienced, 23, led Houston with 21.0 factors per recreation on 42.3% taking pictures and made 234 3-pointers. The guard was the No. 2 total decide within the 2021 draft.
Brooks, 29, averaged 14.0 factors per recreation. The ahead made the NBA’s All-Defensive second crew in 2023 and has two years remaining on a four-year, $86 million contract.
The commerce can’t turn out to be official till July 6, when the brand new league 12 months begins.
Initially Printed: June 22, 2025 at 12:51 PM EDT
