You never truly know when you are going to get the call. Sometimes it can come when you are sitting in an oversized chair in a room full of hundreds of people.
For Kevin Durant, this is exactly how it played out when the future Hall of Famer found out he was traded to the Houston Rockets from the Phoenix Suns while speaking as a panelist at Fanatics Fan Fest in New York City.
“We are going to see,” Durant said with a smile in the wake of the fresh announcement. “We are going to see what happens.”
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Durant will play for a Lone Star State team for the first time since his lone freshman season in Austin. Capping off a stellar season for the Longhorns in 2007, the former first-round pick by the Seattle SuperSonics has become one of the most dominant players in the league’s history.
After acquiring Durant from the Suns, the Rockets sent shooting guard Jalen Green, small forward Dillon Brooks and both picks in the 2025 draft — which includes the No. 10 selection — to Phoenix. The deal also packaged five second-round picks for the NBA veteran coming into his 18th season.
“When people can hang your career in the balance like that and just choose what they want to do with your career is a nerve-racking feeling,” Durant told reporter Kay Adams after the panel. “Being able to dictate what you kinda want to do and being with a team that values you, I’m looking forward to it.”
Despite the public announcement, the teams cannot officially finalize the trade until the start of the 2025-26 season, which starts on July 6.
“Being a part of the Houston Rockets, I’m looking forward to it. (It’s been) crazy, crazy past couple of weeks,” Durant said. “I’m glad it’s over with.”
Entering the twilight of his career, Durant will turn 37 years old in September, but is still producing serviceable numbers when he is on the floor. In his second full season with Phoenix, Durant averaged 26.6 points, six rebounds and 4.2 assists across 62 games.
Along with the Rockets, the San Antonio Spurs were also in the running in the Durant sweepstakes, providing another opportunity for the former Longhorn to return to Texas. San Antonio notably began playing two regular-season games at the Moody Center since the 2022 season, but the former Longhorn was sent to Houston instead.
The Rockets ended the season with the second-best record in the Western Conference, but were bounced in the first round, losing to the Golden State Warriors in seven games after having a 3–1 lead. The two-time NBA Finals champion and Finals MVP will still be a productive member of one of the league’s rising teams.
After trading for the decorated veteran, Houston opens the 2025-26 season with the second-best odds to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy, according to BetMGM.
“They had a great season last year, love their leadership,” Durant said. “I thought I would be a good addition.”