Durant ➡️ Houston, the league now has a problem

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Arguably the greatest scorer in NBA history Kevin Durant — the ultimate closer — is now a Houston Rocket after a pre-NBA Draft blockbuster trade sent Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick and five second-round picks to Phoenix on Monday, June 23, 2025 (AEST).

The trade returns the 10th pick in the 2025 Draft to Suns on Friday, June 27. Phoenix acquired the 59th pick, two in second rounders in 2026, one in 2030 and another in 2032.

Australian centre Jock Landale has two years remaining on his contract with the Rockets (2025-26 / $8M and $8M team option for 2026-27) but he still faces the challenge of winning minutes against New Zealand big man Steven Adams, who signed an extension last week.

Australian guard Jack McVeigh is out of contract after signing a two-way deal with the Rockets before the 2024-25 season. He is back in Australia at the moment.

Green, 23, is a rising star and led the Rockets in scoring last season at 21.3 points per game and will join superstar Devin Booker in the Suns backcourt.

But the Rockets have landed the missing piece that makes them an instant title contender. They are young, went 52-30 and finished first in the South West Division but couldn't get past the more experience Golden State Warriors, losing in seven games in the 2025 playoffs.

Durant, 37, changes the dynamic both on the floor and in the locker room. He needed to carry the load in Phoenix but that changes in Houston where the Rockets are young and deep but lacked the experience of a go-to player in the clutch. Not any more.

Durant has career averages of 27.2 points per game, 7.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 50.2% from the field, 39.9% from three, 88.2% from the free throw line, and a win share of 175.4 in more than 1,120 games. He is a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Kevin Durant Career Snapshot

• 4x Olympic Games Gold Medallist
• 2× NBA champion (2017, 2018)
• 2× NBA Finals MVP (2017, 2018)
• NBA Most Valuable Player (2014)
• 15× NBA All-Star (2010–2019, 2021–2025)
• 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP (2012, 2019)
• 6× All-NBA First Team (2010–2014, 2018)
• 5× All-NBA Second Team (2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024)
• NBA Rookie of the Year (2008)
• NBA All-Rookie First Team (2008)
• 4× NBA scoring champion (2010–2012, 2014)
• NBA 75th Anniversary Team
• National college player of the year (2007)
• Consensus first-team All-American (2007)
• USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2007)
• Big 12 Player of the Year (2007)
• No. 35 retired by Texas Longhorns
• Olympics MVP (2020)
• FIBA World Cup MVP (2010)
• 3× USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2010, 2016, 2021)
• McDonald's All-American Game Co-MVP (2006)

2025-26 Houston Rockets

In a modern league where positionless size matters, the Rockets are now frightening. Adams, 31, is the only player in the primary rotation that is limited to one position, the rest of the squad can guard multiple positions and score the ball.

• (PF) Kevin Durant: 211 cm ($51.1M)
• (C) Alperen Sengun: 211 cm ($5.4M)
• (F) Amen Thompson: 201 cm ($9.2M)
• (F) Tari Eason: 203 cm ($3.6M)
• (PF) Jabari Smith Jr.: 208 cm ($9.7M)
• (C) Steven Adams: 211cm ($12.6M)

Yes, the Rockets have three 211cm players that will spend plenty of minutes together in 2025-26.

Durant's addition takes the pressure of NBA championship point guard Fred Van Fleet, 31, to score. He can now run the offense primarily as a facilitator.

Green moving to Phoenix will almost certainly free up minutes for the No3 2024 NBA Draft Pick Reed Sheppard, 20, who struggled to get minutes given the depth the Rockets had at the guard spot.

Houston is Durant's fifth team: Oklahoma City Thunder; Golden State Warriors; Brooklyn Nets; and Phoenix Suns.

The Rockets were good last season, they will be great next season. The rest of the league is now on notice.