Kevin Durant wasn’t sold on a Golden State return.
According to ESPN, the Suns star told Steph Curry that another Warriors run didn’t “feel right” and that it “wasn’t the time” to pair back up, adding that Durant “was happy in Phoenix and wasn’t looking to play elsewhere.”
The Warriors nearly re-acquired the NBA legend ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline before learning Durant had “no desire” to come back to the team he spent three seasons with (2016-19), winning two titles.
Durant’s “coldness” about the idea of returning to the Bay Area was “unexpected” by Warriors brass, according to a report from The Athletic earlier this week.
Golden State instead pivoted to the Heat star Jimmy Butler, whom they acquired in a five-team trade, sending out Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroder and Kyle Anderson, among other assets.
Durant ultimately stood pat in Phoenix despite the Warriors and Timberwolves, who made a last-ditch effort to trade for the 15-time All-Star, interest.
Sitting at 25-25, the Suns are in the midst of yet another disappointing season.
Since Durant paired up with Devin Booker in Phoenix two seasons ago, they’ve won just one playoff series.
The Suns’ locker room was “very awkward” ahead of Wednesday’s loss against the Thunder, according to ESPN, as trade rumors surrounded the team over the weeks leading up to the deadline.
“I’ll use ‘toxic,’” Ramona Shelburne said of the Suns’ locker room. “That shootaround, I heard, was very awkward, very weird because everyone was on pins and needles wondering what they were going to do.”
Durant, 36, has one more year left on his contract after this season with a $54.7 million cap hit.
He’s averaging 26.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season while shooting 52.4 percent from the field.
