PHOENIX — In his 18th season, Kevin Durant has been around long enough to understand how business in the NBA works. Almost nothing is forever. Anything can change. It nearly happened to him last week before the trade deadline.
“Everybody’s bought and sold in this league,’’ Durant said after practice Monday. “Anybody can be up for auction. I understand that.”
Durant, who’s missed the Phoenix Suns’ last three games because of a left ankle sprain, talked with reporters for the first time since Phoenix considered trading the 15-time All-Star last week. The Athletic and other news outlets reported that the Suns were engaged in talks with the Golden State Warriors and possibly others.
Durant, 36, pointed out that he has been traded and switched teams before. But he made it clear this experience was different. When a reporter brought up his history, Durant interjected: “Let’s get this straight: I haven’t been through this.”
Durant acknowledged he did not see this coming, but “being blindsided doesn’t matter,” he said, adding the Suns have to do whatever they think is needed to improve the team. Durant did not comment on whether this has changed his relationship with the front office, explaining his preference to keep that relationship private. Asked if he thought he deserved a head’s up on the trade conversations, Durant said he doesn’t deserve anything.
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“I got to work to earn and get everything,’’ he said. “I don’t expect anything from any person. I’m not entitled to anything. I just go out there and do my job and if I’m compensated for doing my job, cool. If not, I’ll move on. That’s kind of how I look at stuff. … I just got to focus on my job.”
Since trading for Durant at the 2023 deadline, the Suns have considered him, as well as star guard Devin Booker, as organizational building blocks. Phoenix, however, has underperformed this season, hovering around .500.
Leading up to the deadline, the front office pursued disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler to boost its core in hopes of a second-half push. Guard Bradley Beal was involved in this trade speculation, but he proved difficult to move, mostly because of his expensive contract that included a no-trade clause he seemed reluctant to waive. Phoenix also had little flexibility because of its place above the second apron, a threshold that limits how high-spending teams can make deals.
Durant said sitting out with the ankle injury hasn’t helped since the deadline. Instead of discussing his performance, the media and others have spent time forming certain narratives about his happiness in Phoenix. Durant is under contract through the 2025-26 season and due for an extension. He knows this storyline won’t go away.
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“I always had a goal of just playing my contract out and seeing what happens,’’ Durant said. “I can’t focus on a year-and-a-half down the line. I know that will be a topic. That’s probably the most frustrating part about being in trade talks is that the microscope is going to be on solely just me the rest of the season. My body language. How I speak to (news reporters) after the game. How I’m looking on the bench. That stuff will be magnified, which sucks.”
Durant is expected to return for Phoenix’s home game Tuesday night against Memphis. He is 26 points from becoming the eighth NBA player to reach 30,000 career points. He said he’s looking forward to returning to the court with his teammates.
“S— like that happens,’’ Durant said of the past week. ”It’s not a bad thing that people around the league want me to play for them. It’s not a bad thing that my organization here is fighting off people to keep me on the team. Or even dangling me in trades. That’s just a part of being in high demand. I can understand that part of it. This is the most important thing, though, when that ball is bouncing and we’re in here together as a unit and as a family.”
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(Photo: Alika Jenner / Getty Images)
