Kevin Durant nearly rejoined the Golden State Warriors this month. Before the NBA trade deadline, the Warriors and Phoenix Suns were reported to be in advanced talks on a trade that would have sent Durant back to the Bay Area. The deal ultimately fell apart after Durant had reportedly made it clear that he didn’t want to return to Golden State.
Both Steph Curry and head coach Steve Kerr wanted to make a move, but after Durant’s resistance, Kerr reasoned the forward’s friction with Warriors fans was one potential reason he didn’t want a reunion.
However, Durant has now refuted Kerr’s claims and also addressed his relationship with Draymond Green, which was reported to be another reason he didn’t want to return to his old stomping grounds.
‘I Just Didn’t Want To Move’ – Kevin Durant Reveals Real Reason For Not Wanting Reunion With Warriors
This trade deadline featured a series of blockbuster trades, and Durant landing back with the Warriors after helping them win two championships would have only added to the chaos.
Instead, after the deal fell apart, Kerr appeared in an interview with ESPN and made it clear that there weren’t any “hard feelings” or “resentment” toward Durant. He also appeared to be empathetic about what the forward endured with the Golden State fanbase, arguing that there was no reason he would want to return after that.
“I don’t blame Kevin one bit for not wanting to rerun things here. He took so much sh** for like, ‘Oh, you’re jumping on the bandwagon.’ And then he’s Finals MVP two years in a row. It’s like he still gets criticized,” Kerr told ESPN.
“So why would he want to face all that B.S. again?”
Durant refuted the Warriors’ head coach’s claim in a recent interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews and said he had nothing against his time with the Warriors or Draymond Green, for that matter. The forward further made it clear that the only reason he blocked the reunion was that he didn’t want to get traded in the middle of the season.
“People talk crazy about me all the time,” Durant said. “That’s not the reason why I didn’t come back. I just didn’t want to get traded midway through the season. It was nothing against my time with the Warriors, or I heard it was because I don’t like Draymond.
“At the end of the day, I just didn’t want to move. And I wanted to see it through with my team in Phoenix. And see what we can do through the rest of the season, so I’m glad I’m still there.”
KD on Kerr saying he didn't want to run it back with the Dubs:
"That's not the reason why I didn't want to come back, I just didn't want to get traded midway through the season" pic.twitter.com/OI0GMnbgu7
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) February 18, 2025
Durant is under contract beyond this year with a cap hit of $54.7 million, and although he has missed 13 matches due to injuries, he’s averaging 27.3 points, 6.0 boards, and 4.2 assists per game. The 36-year-old stands sixth in the league in terms of scoring and ranks seventh among forwards with 1.4 blocks per game.
He represented the Suns at the 2025 All-Star Game, making his 15th appearance in 17 years. He was part of the Shaq’s OGs, who defeated Chuck’s Global Stars 41-25.
