Kevin Durant Heads to Houston in Major NBA Trade
In a stunning development that has captured the attention of basketball enthusiasts, the Houston Rockets have secured a deal to acquire Kevin Durant, a 15-time All-Star and four-time Olympic gold medalist, from the Phoenix Suns. This significant trade, which took place on Sunday, was confirmed by a source familiar with the arrangement who spoke to the Associated Press.
As part of this high-profile exchange, the Rockets will send Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and six future draft picks to the Suns. These picks include the No. 10 selection in the upcoming NBA draft’s first round, as per the anonymous source, pending NBA approval of the trade.
Durant’s future had been the subject of much conjecture, with several teams—such as Miami and Minnesota—expressing interest at various stages. Ultimately, it was the Rockets’ proposition that captured the Suns’ attention.
ESPN was the first to break the news of this trade.
The announcement came while Durant was present at Fanatics Fest NYC in New York. Amid the crowd’s reaction, Durant smiled widely and responded, “We’re gonna see, man. We’re gonna see.”
Durant’s media company, Boardroom, which he co-founded with Rich Kleiman in 2019, collaborates on numerous initiatives with Fanatics. He was scheduled to participate in a panel titled “Global Game Changers” at the event.
Durant’s arrival in Houston is expected to have a significant impact on the team. The Rockets, who finished second in the Western Conference during the regular season, are hopeful that adding the two-time champion to their roster will propel them further next season.
Durant concluded the current season with an average of 26.6 points per game. Over his 17-year NBA career, excluding a year lost to injury, the 6-foot-11 forward has maintained an average of 27.2 points and seven rebounds per game.
This move marks Durant’s return to Texas, where he spent his college basketball career with the Longhorns, earning the title of college player of the year before being drafted second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007.
Houston will be the fifth team in Durant’s illustrious career, joining Seattle (later the Oklahoma City Thunder), Golden State, Brooklyn, and Phoenix. Durant achieved his championship victories with the Warriors in 2017 and 2018 and became the top scorer in U.S. Olympic basketball history last summer in Paris. He is also the first male player to secure four gold medals.
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