Kevin Durant’s life at the Phoenix Suns had taken an interesting turn last season. With a heavy payroll, with taxes summing up to $400 million, Mat Ishbia was failing to catch a breath. KD, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal had captured a major part of the payroll at the beginning of the 2024-25 NBA season. A total of $150 million. The Suns had no flexibility, and trading during the midseason trade window seemed like the only way out.

Rumors began swirling around the NBA world. “Kevin Durant to the Warriors.” Many even believed it was possible, given how the Slim Reaper won two consecutive championships with the Dubs in 2017 and 2018. Well, the truth is that the Suns nearly sent him back to the Bay before KD pulled the plug.

“No f—–g way they tryna do this s–t behind my back,” he said on the Netflix Series, Starting 5, Season 2. The topic of discussion here? The Phoenix Suns are trying to trade him to the Golden State Warriors at the deadline.

“Initially, I was a little upset because I felt like we built a solid relationship, me and the Phoenix Suns,” speaking at Game Plan Sports’ Business Summit recently, Durant expressed. “And to hear that from a different party was kind of upsetting, but that’s just the name of the game. So I got over that quickly and was trying to figure out what the next steps were.”

At one point, the NBA world buzzed with whispers of a blockbuster deal that could’ve swapped Jimmy Butler to Phoenix and Kevin Durant back to Golden State. Yet, Durant pulled the brakes, guided by Rich Kleiman and his trusted ties in the Bay. Timing became everything. As the dust settled, the Houston Rockets swooped in fast, sealing the move. Meanwhile, Phoenix crumbled, missing the playoffs and wasting its once-promising Beal-Booker-Durant trio.

Many experts believed that Kevin Durant would likely finish his historic NBA career with the Phoenix Suns. However, in the world of the NBA, business considerations often take precedence, especially when it comes to a team’s financial flexibility. Consequently, when the time came, Mat Ishbia made the difficult decision to release Durant, who was already actively searching for a new team. In short, the farewell was far from cheerful.

Kevin Durant left the Suns with a bitter aftertaste

Kevin Durant’s time with the Phoenix Suns came to a dramatic end, and now the Houston Rockets are prominently featured in his journey. The Slim Reaper departed from the desert, leaving the Suns stunned and without a championship. At Fanatic Fest, Durant learned of his new situation in real time when Shams Charania announced his trade to the Rockets in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick, and five future second-round picks. While shocked, Durant maintained his composure and simply stated, “We’re gonna see, man.”

Now officially part of Ime Udoka’s roster, Kevin Durant realized that countless Suns fans were left heartbroken by his departure. “That’s not true,” the 37-year-old veteran denied claims. He shared, “I just felt like, yeah, they wanted me to go. So it’s like, I’m glad we both, you know, they got what they wanted and I got what I wanted. So we can move on, and good luck to them going forward.”

In 2023, Mat Ishbia entered the league by purchasing the Suns for $4 billion, immediately making waves. Within forty-eight hours, he brought in Kevin Durant, offering four unprotected draft picks without hesitation. However, by February 2025, the excitement had faded. The front office wanted to move on, while Durant refused to leave and nearly rejoined the Golden State Warriors. This was a clear sign that Phoenix had closed its doors.

The Suns had a bright moment but quickly fizzled out, leaving Kevin Durant feeling frustrated. From trade talks to almost returning to Golden State, the dream of their superstar trio collapsed under its own pressure. Decisions about timing, loyalty, and difficult choices led Durant to Houston, leaving fans shocked and the franchise reconsidering its strategies. With poise, KD moved on, leaving the desert behind and stepping into a new chapter ready to unfold.