Kevin Durant Finds Out About His Trade to the Rockets While Onstage at an Event: 'You're Headed to Houston'

Published: June 22, 2025

NBA champion Kevin Durant received surprising news while giving a live interview onstage at Fanatics Fest in New York City on Sunday, June 22. The 36-year-old forward was informed that he had been traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets.

Kevin Durant speaks onstage during Fanatics Fest in New York City on June 22, 2025.

According to Yahoo Sports, Durant was speaking to moderator Taylor Rooks for the event's "Global Game Changers" panel when the crowd began to yell out the news of the trade. Durant appeared confused for a moment before asking the crowd to repeat what they were saying.

"You're headed to Houston. How does that sound?" Rooks then asked the NBA star, as the crowd continued to yell.

"We're gonna see, man, we're gonna see," Durant replied to the moderator, smiling.

In an interview after the panel, Durant shared that he "had an idea" that the trade might happen, but "didn't know exactly when it was gonna happen." He also expressed his excitement about moving to the Rockets, saying, "I'm glad we kind of did this onstage, it worked out."

Durant revealed that he had given the Suns a few options as to where he'd like to be traded, and the Rockets were on his list. He felt that they were coming off a "great season" and he considered himself "a good addition" to the Texas-based team.

The trade marks Durant's fifth in the league and comes just hours before the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers were set to square off for the 2025 championship title.

According to ESPN, the trade was an exchange between the Suns and the Rockets, as the Phoenix team will get Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the tenth overall pick in Wednesday's draft, and five second-rounders.

Durant, who averaged 26.6 points per game this season, will join rising stars on the Rockets, including guard Amen Thompson and center Alperen Şengün, as well as head coach Ime Udoka.

The Houston team made the NBC playoffs for the first time in five years this year, eventually losing in the first round to the Golden State Warriors.

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