Kevin Durant is one of the best players of this generation, is one of the best scorers of all time, and has earned admiration from all corners of the NBA world. Even at age 36 and on a disappointing Phoenix Suns team, Durant remains one of the best players in the world.
This offseason, he is expected to be traded as he and the Suns butt heads over the lack of success and a failed attempt to trade him without approval this winter. With Durant seemingly available, plenty of teams are expected to show interest, although the Houston Rockets appear to be the frontrunner.
After beating the Suns on Sunday, Rockets' head coach Ime Udoka expressed respect towards the star, prompting even more rumors.
Udoka is one of the most brutally honest figures in the league, so his comments should never be taken with a grain of salt.
"Yeah, he's, I mean, it was even before that, I had him with USA Basketball quite a bit, so his day-to-day approach is unlike anybody I've really been around or seen, and I think young guys seeing that with USA and then the day-to-day with Brooklyn, obviously, as well," Udoka said. "He goes about his business the same regardless. He's a dude that, with all the accolades he has, still has a chip, and he's still grumpy as hell every day, but he holds himself to a high standard."
If the Rockets get the okay from Udoka to make a massive trade for him and make a run at the title next season, they will likely be forced to return several of the Suns' future draft picks back to them in the deal, making it a win-win for both parties.
Related: NBA Mock Draft Links Suns to All-American Guard
With Durant in Houston, the Suns will be able to kickstart a short rebuild, and the Rockets will be able to compete for a title.
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This story was originally published March 31, 2025 at 6:22 PM.