Once it became obvious that both the Phoenix Suns and Kevin Durant were ready to move on from one another, teams starting preparing their best offers ahead of last season’s trade deadline. The Golden State Warriors were one of those teams, and they thought they had a deal worked out.
However, Durant made it known that he wanted to avoid a trade back to Golden State, where he spent three seasons, winning an NBA championship. Durant stayed put in Phoenix, until they Suns only recently traded him to the Houston Rockets.
However, now according to [The Ringer’s Logan Murdock](https://www.theringer.com/2025/06/23/nba/kevin-durant-trade-houston-rockets-legacy-career), the reason Durant didn’t want to join the Warriors was because of Golden State’s head coach, Steve Kerr. Specifically, Durant reportedly took issue with Kerr’s offense.
> “Durant’s exit from the Bay Area arguably had more to do with his issues with Steve Kerr than any shouting match with Green. Durant repeatedly complained both publicly and privately about Kerr’s offensive principles during his final season with the Warriors, and he continued to do so even after he left for Brooklyn. The two have since reconciled, but league sources identify Kerr as among the reasons Durant opted not to return to Golden State at the trade deadline.”
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> The Ringer on Kevin Durant
Durant re-joining the Warriors likely means they wouldn’t have traded for Jimmy Butler last year instead. Butler provided a quick spark offensively and defensively, helping the Warriors win eight of their final 11 games.
While Butler is a year younger than Durant, he’s not quite as accomplished. Yet, he clearly gave his team a boost, and perhaps the Warriors are better off for Durant having other preferences in the long run.
**Related: [Sacramento Kings shopping two players in search of adding a first-round pick](https://sportsnaut.com/nba/sacramento-kings-trying-to-add-first-round-pick-2025-nba-draft/)**