Kevin Durant Shocks Fans by Rejecting Dramatic Return to Former Team—Find Out Why!

So, Kevin Durant—king of clutch moments and headline-making decisions—is about to kick off a brand-new chapter with the Houston Rockets. But here’s a twist that might make you blink: he actually blocked a deal that would have landed him back with the Golden State Warriors, his old stomping grounds where he snagged those two glittering championships. You’ve got to wonder—what’s behind that cold shoulder to a familiar court? Was it just business, personal history, or something deeper? As Durant steps into this new season, refusing to rejoin the Warriors amid their suitors’ scramble feels like a power move loaded with mixed emotions—and maybe a silent nod to where his heart really is. Let’s unpack the drama behind the trade buzz and what it means for KD, the Rockets, and the NBA landscape at large.

Phoenix Suns v Dallas Mavericks — (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Kevin Durant is about to start his first season with the Houston Rockets, but he could have moved to a number of teams after his years with the Phoenix Suns.

Last season, there were several franchises vying to get Durant when it became clear he was leaving Phoenix.

One of them was his former squad, the Golden State Warriors.

But Durant himself said that he put a stop to any trade that would have sent him back to Golden State.

“I heard Golden State was in the mix around the trade deadline, but that’s when Rich [Kleiman] came into play, and those relationships that we built around the league and also playing in Golden State helped. We were able to tell them kind of hold off on that,” Durant said.

Kevin Durant confirms that he personally blocked a trade in the 2024-25 season that would’ve sent him back to the Golden State Warriors with Stephen Curry

“I heard Golden State was in the mix around the trade deadline, but that’s when Rich came into play, and those… pic.twitter.com/b71rmCdx9j

— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) September 21, 2025