Why Kevin Durant Wanted To ‘wash My Hands’ Of Warriors, Suns Tenures

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A caller era of Kevin Durant's illustrious NBA profession began successful June, erstwhile he was dealt to nan Houston Rockets successful a blockbuster trade. Durant landing successful Houston was nary accident—the young and quiet Rockets squad coming disconnected of a 50-win play was 1 of Durant's 3 preferred landing spots.

But things astir played retired differently. Durant, starring for a struggling Suns team, was nan taxable of rumors astatine nan NBA's waste and acquisition deadline this past February—and he was astir yet different large food dealt successful a oversea of superstars, astir notably Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis and Jimmy Butler. At 1 point, Durant returning to Golden State, wherever he captured a brace of NBA championships and Finals MVP awards, seemed a existent possibility. But Durant did not want a 2nd stint successful nan Bay Area.

So Durant stayed put successful Phoenix, past this offseason returned to nan authorities wherever he played his assemblage basketball. It was a alteration of scenery pinch a brand-new organization.

And that seems to beryllium by design. Durant, successful an exclusive question and reply pinch Sports Illustrated, explained why a caller destination for illustration Houston appealed to him much than franchises specified arsenic nan Warriors and Suns wherever he had history.

"And I emotion Steph. I emotion hooping pinch Steph," Durant told SI. "And I really thought astir going backmost to nan Warriors. But it was a definite portion of maine that conscionable didn't for illustration that this past small shape of my profession was gonna be—where I was gonna play was gonna be—that these owners was conscionable gonna activity down my backmost to make that determination for me.

"I didn't for illustration that portion of it. And I felt for illustration I worked my measurement up successful this convention and put a batch of sweat equity into my sanction and my game, aliases nan respect aliases nan marque that I've created. So you doing business down my back, backdoor s--- for illustration that—It conscionable didn't beryllium correct pinch me. So I conscionable wanted to lavation my hands of some of those teams, nan Warriors and nan Suns.

"Because I didn't for illustration really they did business."

Durant went connected to statement that he did admit 1 motion from Golden State.

"I do appreciate, actually, nan Warriors coming to maine earlier they really made a move and asking me, 'Did I want to beryllium a portion of it?' But I conscionable didn't for illustration really they each formed," Durant said. "So, I conscionable wanted to lavation my hands pinch that and move on. Houston was nan squad that really respected me, respected what I bring to nan array and wanted to make this work. So, I'm excited astir it."

Clearly, Durant wanted nan determination for really he's apt to extremity his profession to remainder successful his hands, nary 1 else's. A early Hall of Famer, Durant is showing nary signs of slowing down astatine property 37. The Texas merchandise has averaged astatine slightest 25 points, 50% section extremity shooting, and 40% shooting from beyond nan three-point statement successful each of nan past 3 seasons, nan longest specified streak successful NBA history.

Durant connected Oct. 19 signed a two-year, $90 cardinal statement extension pinch a subordinate action for 2027-28. His tenure pinch nan Rockets began pinch a 125-124 nonaccomplishment to different erstwhile employer, nan Oklahoma City Thunder, a crippled successful which Durant scored 23 points successful 47 minutes, fouling retired pinch 2.3 seconds remaining successful nan 2nd overtime play connected Tuesday night.