Kevin Durant Reveals Why He Blocked Trade Back To Warriors: ‘I Just Didn’t Wanna Get Traded Midway Through The Season’

During an interview with NBA reporter Malika Andrews of ESPN, Kevin Durant revealed why he blocked a trade back to the Golden State Warriors. 

The Warriors had a deal to acquire Durant from the Phoenix Suns, but Durant made it known behind the scenes he didn’t want to play for Golden State again. 

“I just didn’t wanna get traded midway through the season,” Durant said. “It was nothing against my time with the Warriors. Or I heard it was because I don’t like Draymond (Green). At the end of the day, I just didn’t wanna 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.”

One of the top players in NBA history, Durant is making $51.2 million this season. He’ll make $54.7 million next season in the final year of his contract. 

Durant played for the Warriors from 2016-17 to 2018-19. He led Golden State to two straight championships in 2017 and 2018, winning both Finals MVPs. 

In Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, Durant tore his Achilles. The Warriors lost to the Raptors in six games and Durant signed with the Brooklyn Nets in the offseason. 

“I don’t blame Kevin one bit for not wanting to rerun things here,” Steve Kerr, who coached Durant with Golden State and USA Basketball, told ESPN. “He took so much s— for like, ‘Oh, you’re jumping on the bandwagon’ [when he signed with Golden State as a free agent in 2016]. And then he’s Finals MVP two years in a row. It’s like he still gets criticized. So why would he want to face all that B.S. again?”

Durant is a four-time scoring champion, a two-time champion, a two-time Finals MVP and a one-time regular-season MVP.

The future Hall of Famer has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Warriors, Nets and Suns.