Two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant has been traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets in a major swap involving eight players, ESPN reported Sunday.
The 36-year-old forward will join a young Rockets squad led by head coach Ime Udoka, with whom Durant shares a strong working relationship from their time with the Brooklyn Nets and the US Olympic team. Udoka recently signed a long-term contract to remain Houston’s coach.
The trade includes Phoenix acquiring swingman Dillon Brooks and guard Jalen Green, along with the 10th overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft and five future second-round draft picks. Brooks was recognized as one of the top defenders in the league last season, while Green averaged 21 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.
Durant, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and 2014 NBA MVP, averaged 26.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game last season with Phoenix. The Suns struggled to a 36-46 record, finishing 11th in the Western Conference.
The Rockets, who finished 52-30 last season, boast promising talent, including Turkish big man Alperen Sengun and guard Fred VanVleet. This trade is expected to bolster their lineup significantly.
Kevin Durant joined Phoenix in February 2023 in a high-profile deal with Brooklyn that cost the Suns three players and four first-round draft picks.
