Suns Owner Reflects on Kevin Durant Trade
This week, Suns owner Mat Ishbia shared his thoughts on why he considers the acquisition of Kevin Durant a mistake. In response, the seasoned All-Star took to social media with a sarcastic hashtag and a flurry of laughing emojis.
“#blameKD even though KD stayed on top of his game at 36 and got u back this ‘culture’ you love so much,” Durant remarked on X, while reposting a story with Ishbia’s comments.
“Aye, Matthew acts like I got arrested for a DUI or something. Back to threads.”
To recap, the Suns landed Durant from the Nets during a dramatic trade at the 2023 deadline, giving away Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four unprotected first-round picks, and a pick swap in 2028.
Durant spent over two seasons in Phoenix, averaging 26.8 points per game across 145 regular-season games. However, the Suns only managed to win one playoff series while Durant was there and failed to make the playoffs in 2025, leading to his subsequent trade to Houston that summer.
Ishbia, who bought the majority stake in the Suns for $2.28 billion in February 2023, expressed his views in a CNBC interview. He noted, “The team was, I think, the eight or nine seed when I bought the team, and we had some good young players. Can we get over the top? I was essentially advised to stay out of it and just provide funding. I said, ‘Hey, let’s go into the luxury tax. Do what it takes to win a championship.’”
He continued, “But going for Kevin Durant was not aligned with my vision. We had a couple of years, and it didn’t succeed, as we’re well aware at this point. After that year, I chose to trade Kevin Durant, bring in my GM, get a coach, and become more personally involved in determining the type of players we want in our organization, both on and off the court.”
After Ishbia’s attempt to trade Durant at the 2025 deadline, relations strained, ultimately leading to Durant’s move to Houston for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, a first-round pick, and five second-round picks.
The Rockets finished the season at 45-37, making it past the play-in tournament but facing a first-round sweep by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I’m not saying it’s Kevin Durant or not Kevin Durant,” Ishbia added. “We’ve defined what matters to us. We have a concept called the Suns’ DNA, identifying the type of player we want, which aligns with what fans will appreciate.”
Ishbia reflected on expectations for last year, noting, “Everyone thought we were going to be the worst team in the league. We made the playoffs and won 45 games. We’ll build on that. My biggest lesson is that it’s important to define what we’re about in Phoenix and stay true to that vision.”
He admitted to previously throwing money at problems without a clear strategy. Now, he’s involved in every decision regarding the roster, the fans, and the coaching staff, stating, “I’m putting my heart and soul into it.”
As for Durant, the Rockets were a respectable fifth seed in the Western Conference but fell in the first round to the Lakers. Reflecting on his time in Phoenix, Durant acknowledged the enjoyable moments but mentioned, “We were an older group kind of set in our ways as veterans. A younger team tends to be more tight-knit, learning together like in college.”
