Future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant returned to Phoenix for the first time since the blockbuster offseason trade that sent him from the Suns to the Houston Rockets, and he made sure to remind fans what they had traded away as he led his team to an impressive 119–105 comeback victory on Tuesday night.
Durant did not receive a tribute during his return and was greeted with a mix of cheers and boos from the Phoenix crowd. Adding to the tension, Suns forward Dillon Brooks repeatedly tried to get under his skin, with the two exchanging heated words throughout the game.
However, Brooks’ efforts had little effect. Durant shook him off with a highlight play in the second quarter, driving past Brooks and knocking down a jumper as the 30-year-old stumbled to the floor. The moment sparked Houston’s comeback, as the Rockets rallied from a 21-point deficit to secure the win. Durant finished with 24 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
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After the game, the 37-year-old was asked whether his exchange with Brooks gave him extra motivation.
“I’m not giving him that. He doesn’t get that kind of credit with me,” Durant said. “Maybe some other guys may turn up because he talks to them, but he’s not that important or special to me to get me going. I wake up, getting ready to play.
“But I respect Dillon, I respect what he brings to the game. Like I said earlier, I think that gets him going more than me. I just happened to get that ball right afterwards and make a good move.”
While that was a slightly measured response, Durant’s in-game message appeared more blunt. According to Fullcourtpass on X, he told Brooks, “My worst season is better than your best,” shortly before the highlight play.
Brooks, who arrived in Phoenix as part of the Durant trade, is enjoying the best season of his career. He is averaging a career-high 20.2 points, along with 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, while shooting 43.4% from the field and 34.2% from three-point range.
But the Suns appear satisfied with their return package, which also included Jalen Green, who is averaging 18.3 points per game, especially given the team’s struggles during Durant’s tenure. While Durant performed at an elite level individually during his two-and-a-half seasons in Phoenix, the Suns were unable to translate that success into deep postseason runs.
The trade has ultimately benefited both teams. Phoenix currently sits seventh in the Western Conference, while Houston is fifth. Durant, meanwhile, is averaging 25.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.
Notably, Durant's 25.8 points per game is one of the lowest scoring averages of his career, with his rookie-season average of 20.3 points standing as the lowest, reinforcing his point that, by most standards, even his “worst” seasons remain at an elite level.
