NBA Rumors: Kevin Durant Has 'Serious Reservations' About Warriors Trade amid Buzz

Featured Columnist IVFebruary 5, 2025

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns in the second quarter at Chase Center on February 10, 2024 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

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Kevin Durant previously won two championships with the Golden State Warriors, but he reportedly has some concerns about a potential second stint should the Phoenix Suns decide to trade him to his former team before Thursday's deadline.

NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported Wednesday that "there is a distinct sense percolating now that Durant does not want to be traded at all."

Stein and Fischer also noted the future Hall of Famer "has some serious reservations about" potentially returning to the Warriors.

ESPN's Shams Charania later confirmed on NBA Today that Durant is not looking to return to the Bay Area:

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
As Golden State pursues Phoenix's Kevin Durant, the two-time Warriors NBA Finals MVP has no desire in a reunion and does not want to go back. Reporting for NBA Today: <a href="https://t.co/tNeTzw2gCf">pic.twitter.com/tNeTzw2gCf</a>

While the idea of a Durant return to Golden State may have seemed shocking weeks ago, so did Luka Dončić ending up on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Deadlines make deals, and the Warriors are reportedly quite interested in landing another star to play alongside Stephen Curry who could help their franchise icon make another deep playoff run.

Charania reported Monday during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show that Golden State is "legitimately calling about every All-Star player." He listed Durant, Jimmy Butler, LeBron James and Paul George during the discussion and underscored how "dead set" the front office is on adding an impact piece next to Curry.

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Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow
"The Warriors are legitimately calling about every All-Star player..<br><br>They've made calls on EVERY star..<br><br>That includes Paul George, LeBron James and Kevin Durant" ~ <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShamsCharania</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PMSLive?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PMSLive</a> <a href="https://t.co/kyHvLs6re3">pic.twitter.com/kyHvLs6re3</a>

Durant surely has fond memories of his time in Golden State.

After all, the team went to the NBA Finals in each of his three seasons from 2016-17 to 2018-19 and won two championships. He was the NBA Finals MVP in back-to-back years in 2017 and 2018 and added those titles to a resume that was littered with other accomplishments.

However, he also drew plenty of ridicule and criticism for joining a team that was coming off an NBA-record 73-win season. That his Oklahoma City Thunder had just lost in seven games to the Warriors in the previous Western Conference Finals only added to the notion he was taking a shortcut to a title.

Still, joining this season's Warriors would be a much different circumstance.

They are tied with the Sacramento Kings, Suns and Dallas Mavericks for the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings and could be fighting for play-in tournament positioning the rest of the campaign.

Ironically, Durant's Suns are one of the teams they are battling with, and there could be a play-in matchup down the line if he stays in Phoenix.

Which is reportedly what he wants to do.