NBA
Phoenix’s Matt Ishbia said Kevin Durant ‘just wasn’t a fit for what we’re doing going forward’
Zach Wolpin is an NBA and NFL expert who's been betting on the league for over three years now. Wolpin has been a fan of the NBA and has been watching for a decade and a half. He covers the latest news and stories surrounding the league daily. His passion in life is watching sports and being able to share that through his sports writing. He has written about the NBA and other sports leagues through various media outlets over the years like Sir Charles In Charge, G-Men HQ, and TAP into South Plainfield. Before he became an NBA News Writer, Wolpin attended Montclair State University where he graduated in 2021. He studied Sports Media and Writing while in school.
All posts by Zach WolpinUpdated4 hours ago on September 25, 2025
At the 2022-23 trade deadline, the Suns made a massive deal with the Nets. They sent Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, and four unprotected first-round picks to Brooklyn.
In return, the Suns received a walking Hall of Famer, Kevin Durant. His tenure with the Suns lasted three seasons and 145 games. During the 2025 offseason, Phoenix traded Durant to the Houston Rockets. Recently, Suns’ majority owner Matt Ishbia was on NBA Today. He mentioned how Kevin Durant is one of the best players in the league. However, he said the soon-to-be 37-year-old “just wasn’t a fit for what we’re doing going forward.”
Suns majority owner Matt Ishbia took a subtle jab at Kevin Durant
“[He] just wasn’t a fit for what we’re doing going forward.”
– Mat Ishbia on Kevin Durant
(🎥 @ESPNNBA / h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 24, 2025
On NBA Today, the Suns’ majority owner, Matt Ishbia, was asked to reflect on the Kevin Durant trade. He started by mentioning how Durant is a great player and that can never be questioned. Ishbia did state that Kevin Durant “just wasn’t a fit for what we’re doing going forward.” That’s partially why they traded the two-time NBA champion. Phoenix needed to hit a small reset, and trading Durant was their best option.
The Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Rockets in the 2025 offseason. In return, Houston received Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and several draft picks. That included the three players from the 2025 draft class. Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Flemming, and Koby Brea. Additionally, Matt Ishbia went into detail explaining the talent they got back for Durant.
Mat Ishbia on Dillon Brooks:
“We made the Kevin Durant trade, Dillon was a target. Dillon is exactly what we’re talking about. He’s the kind of guy we want here. Defensive minded, tough, sticks up for his teammates.”
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) September 24, 2025
One player Phoenix got in exchange for Kevin Durant was Dillon Brooks. He spent two seasons with Houston and was a full-time starter. Brooks will have a starting role with the new-look Suns’ roster. Another player Phoenix got in the deal was Jalen Green. He was the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft and someone the team valued highly. Green is entering his fifth professional season and will turn 23 in February.
Matt Ishbia explained how Jalen Green has so much upside and durability. He started all 82 games in each of his last two seasons. Green was a leading scorer for the Suns, but won’t have to take on that role with Phoenix. Devin Booker is more than capable of leading the team in scoring, while Green is a solid second option. The Suns have a new-look roster heading into 2025-26, and have hit a small rebuild. Will trading Kevin Durant work out in the long term for Phoenix?
