Kevin Durant Says Suns Scapegoated Him After Trade Request

Durant Speaks Out: “I Didn’t Want to Be Traded”

Kevin Durant dropped some pretty eye-opening comments this week about his exit from the Phoenix Suns. And he’s not holding back.

In a recent interview, Durant said he felt “scapegoated” by the Suns organization and their fans. More importantly? He didn’t even want to leave in the first place.

“They didn’t want to build around me,” Durant explained. “I didn’t want to be traded.”

That’s about as clear as it gets from a guy who usually keeps his cards pretty close to the vest.

How It All Went Down

Let’s rewind a bit. Durant joined the Suns back in 2023 in what was supposed to be a championship-caliber move. The team was building around him and Devin Booker, and expectations were through the roof.

But things didn’t pan out the way anyone hoped.

The team fell short of a title. Internal issues started bubbling up during the playoffs. And eventually, the Suns traded Durant to the Houston Rockets before the 2025 season kicked off.

Here’s the thing though – according to Durant, this wasn’t his idea at all.

He said the Suns made the decision for him. The whole situation wasn’t him pushing for a way out. It was the organization deciding they wanted to move on.

That word “scapegoated” is pretty telling. It suggests Durant felt like he was getting blamed for things that weren’t entirely in his control.

KEVIN DURANT FOR THE WIN AGAINST HIS FORMER TEAM!!!

– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport)

Reading Between the Lines

What’s interesting is that Durant didn’t go after specific teammates or coaches. He kept his criticism focused on the organization’s decisions and how the whole narrative got spun.

He said it became more about assigning blame than actually trying to build something successful.

“I didn’t want to be the villain,” Durant reflected, talking about how fans and media painted his departure.

He added that the stories around his time in Phoenix kept shifting, even though he was still putting up really strong numbers and contributing on both sides of the court.

What People Are Saying

Social media has been all over this, and opinions are pretty split.

Some people feel for Durant’s perspective. They’re pointing out that organizational moves often get oversimplified when the public talks about them. It’s never as black and white as “player wanted out.”

Others aren’t buying it. They argue that when you’ve got that much talent on a roster, championship expectations are completely fair.

Either way, Durant’s comments won’t change what happened. But they definitely add some depth to what was already one of the most talked-about moves in recent NBA history.

Life With Houston

So how’s Durant doing now? Pretty well, actually.

With the Rockets, he’s taken on both the the leader and star scorer role. He’s still producing at an elite level, using his scoring ability and shot creation to make Houston’s offense way more dangerous.

His presence has helped keep the Rockets competitive in what’s a seriously tough Western Conference.

Durant’s reflections on Phoenix really show how personal and complex NBA careers can be. We all focus on the points and the wins – that’s what makes headlines. But the stories behind the scenes? Those often matter just as much.

Whether you agree with Durant’s take or not, his comments add another fascinating chapter to one of the league’s most interesting player journeys. And it’s a reminder that there’s usually way more to these stories than what we see from the outside.