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New York Knicks reportedly not interested in trading for Kevin Durant.
The New York Knicks are reportedly out on trading for superstar Kevin Durant. According to New York Post writer Stefan Bondy, a deal is not likely to materialize. Durant is widely expected to be traded out of Phoenix this summer as he and his business partner Rich Kleiman explore trade options.
ESPN insider Shams Charania first reported on June 11 that Durant was widely expected to be traded out of Phoenix with the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat and New York Knicks interested in the future Hall of Fame forward.
The Knicks are not in the mix for Kevin Durant, the Post has learnedhttps://t.co/857z0iNZpn
— Stefan Bondy (@SbondyNBA) June 11, 2025
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If Durant is in fact traded, it will represent the fourth new team he’s been on since controversially departing the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency for the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
Durant’s Time in Phoenix
When Kevin Durant was first traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Phoenix Suns for a package that included Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and four first-round picks, it was widely expected the Suns would immediately compete for championships. Sadly for Phoenix fans, this didn’t happen.
With injuries, coaching changes and lack of cohesion across the roster, the Suns only advanced past the first round with Durant once. In 2025 the Suns missed out on the postseason entirely after posting a 36-46 record.
Without Kevin Durant in the lineup during the 2024-25 season, the Suns were a miserable 3-17. When he did play, Phoenix still didn’t look like a world beater by any means. With the forward in the lineup, the Suns were 33-29.
In his Suns career Durant reiterated that he could be an offensive hub even at his advanced age in sporting years. For his Suns tenure he played in 145 games and averaged 26.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists while shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 42.7 percent from deep.
Knicks Side of Things
For New York, this represents an interesting shift of the tides from a number of years ago. When Durant was a free agent in 2019, he spurned the Knicks in favor of signing with the rival Brooklyn Nets. There he joined fellow star Kyrie Irving in free agency that season and later James Harden who was acquired via a trade with Houston a year and a half later. But now its the Knicks who aren’t interested in Durant.
This year the Knicks built quite the team. With a core of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart, New York advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. In order to acquire Durant, they’d likely have to subtract significantly from this core of players which has brought them success they haven’t seen in a quarter century.
Between that and searching for a new head coach, it would appear unwise to continue to shake things up when the formula for winning a championship in New York is seemingly close.
Durant will be 37 years old when next season starts and is eager to win his first championship since leaving the Golden State Warriors.