Kevin Durant had made up his mind. He could no longer see a championship in the near future with the OKC Thunder. At that moment, joining a team that had just proven its dominance in the West seemed like the right choice. So, he headed to the Golden State Warriors in 2016. But what about loyalty? What about leaving behind the fanbase in Oklahoma that has supported him since his draft year?

Fans were furious. They rained boos on him every time he returned to Chesapeake Arena, throwing cupcakes at him in a symbolic gesture of betrayal. His house wasn’t spared either. In fact, reports claimed that angry fans filmed videos outside his home, their rage on full display. But how must it have felt for Durant seeing the very people who once cheered for him turn on him so vehemently? Let’s hear it from the man himself.

“People enjoyed having me around,” Durant said about the OKC fans on Out The Mud Podcast. “So me just leaving just like that. And we were close to getting to the finals. Yeah, I understood why people was pissed off. But I couldn’t make a decision based off of what other people wanted to do.” And rightfully so, Durant had every right to choose his own future. He didn’t do anything illegal by signing a $54.3 million contract with the Warriors. However, it’s the sentiment that led fans to react the way they did.

Moreover, Durant admitted that there were several factors behind his decision to leave OKC. “I feel like there’s a lot of different factors into why I wanted to leave OKC. The majority of it is I wanted a new experience. I wanted to play a different way, a different style. I wanted to live in a different city, experience a different life in a different city,” he explained. The 14-time All-Star didn’t want to stay in the same organization. He wanted to explore new opportunities. And the Golden State seemed like the perfect fit for his skill set.

Durant proudly stated, “We didn’t play basketball as just the Warriors. We didn’t play ball as like we were just flat out bigger, better, bigger, stronger, faster than you. We played together. We actually played real team basketball for us to win.” And the results speak for themselves. Durant not only won two straight titles with the Warriors but also earned Finals MVP honors for both championships.

He wrapped up the discussion by emphasizing his gratitude for the opportunity. “I think it was just the perfect move for me to expand my game, to broaden my perspective on what this whole thing is about… So I’m grateful I was able to get that chance,” Durant added. So, the 36-year-old clearly has no regrets about leaving OKC, but what about his time with the Suns now? With rumors circulating about a potential trade involving him and Devin Booker to the Houston Rockets, his future in Phoenix seems to be filled with uncertainty.

Kevin Durant and Devin Booker at the center of trade rumors to the Rockets

Michael Pina of The Ringer stated in his report, “KD is the rare offensive talent who’d make the Rockets (currently second in the West) a legitimate threat to win it all without mangling the long-term development of anyone else on that roster.” The journalist further pointed out the “immense trade value” KD still holds for any team.

However, Phoenix wouldn’t part ways with him that easily. It’s not just KD that the franchise is reportedly interested in, but also his teammate Devin Booker. However, Brian Windhorst dismissed the claim of a possible move involving Booker. “Devin Booker is staying with the Suns,” the insider declared on The Hoop Collective. “I can’t see I don’t see just to interject I don’t see any any wavering on that whatsoever that’s sorry just interject.”

So, there’s some clarity on the guard’s future, as he’s set to continue his journey with his drafted team. Meanwhile, there hasn’t been much interest from KD in accepting any offers from the Rockets. Perhaps, as Durant mentioned,

the tension in the locker room isn’t as significant as it seems, it’s more about the outside noise.