Kevin Durant has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind, and he’s at it again, this time shutting down swirling trade rumors and speculation about his past with Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. The Phoenix Suns superstar took to X to slam what he called a “bulls–t narrative” that suggested tensions with Kerr were a key reason he didn’t return to Golden State before the 2025 NBA trade deadline. The 15-time All-Star is setting the record straight, and his response is as fiery as his game on the court.
The controversy stemmed from a report by The Ringer’s Logan Murdock, who claimed Durant and Kerr didn’t always see eye to eye during their three seasons together with the Warriors from 2016 to 2019. Murdock went further, alleging that Kerr was among the reasons Durant opted against a reunion with Golden State at the trade deadline. But Durant wasn’t having it. In a direct and unapologetic post on X, he called out the narrative as fabricated, making it clear he’s tired of recycled stories about his time with the Warriors.
In a February interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Durant clarified his stance on trade rumors, stating he “just didn’t want to move” mid-season. His reasoning had less to do with any specific team—like the Warriors—and more to do with his commitment to seeing things through with the Phoenix Suns. For Durant, loyalty to his current squad and the grind of an NBA season outweigh the allure of a nostalgic return to Golden State.
Even if Durant had specifically vetoed a move to the Warriors, it wouldn’t be hard to understand why. His three-year stint with Golden State, while wildly successful—yielding two NBA titles and two Finals MVP awards—wasn’t exactly a fairy tale. A vocal subset of fans has persistently downplayed his contributions, arguing that his championships came on the coattails of an already-stacked Warriors roster. The sting of that perception was epitomized by a now-infamous moment at the 2018 Warriors championship parade, when then-general manager Bob Myers made a joke that underscored Durant’s outsider status on a team built organically around Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Warriors are a different team. Myers is no longer in the front office, and the roster has seen significant turnover. Curry, Green, and Durant are all in the later stages of their illustrious careers, and a reunion could have been a poetic final chapter—a chance for three future Hall of Famers to chase one last ring together. The idea of Durant rejoining forces with his former teammates, older and wiser, might have been a unifying force for a Warriors squad looking to recapture past glory.
We still on this??? Obvious opportunity for Logan Murdock to gain even more attention and try too revive his career by using my name and the Warriors. The audience is SICK AND TIRED of the same bullshit narrative. Be better my man
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 24, 2025
But Durant’s decision to stay put in Phoenix speaks volumes about his priorities. This isn’t about lingering grudges or unresolved drama with Kerr. It’s about a 36-year-old superstar who knows what he wants: to build something lasting with the Suns, not chase fleeting nostalgia. By calling out the trade rumors and their supposed ties to Kerr, Durant is exposing the media’s tendency to stir up drama where none exists. His blunt response is a reminder that he’s not here for the speculation—he’s here to play basketball and win.
As the NBA season rolls on, Durant’s focus remains clear. The trade deadline chatter is just noise, and he’s tuning it out. For now, the two-time Finals MVP is content to let his game do the talking, leaving the rumors and narratives in the dust.