In a dramatic twist that could have rewritten NBA history once again, Kevin Durant had a real opportunity to return to the Golden State Warriors at the 2025 trade deadline. But one key figure reportedly changed everything: Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.
According to The Ringer’s Logan Murdock, Durant’s reluctance to reunite with the franchise where he won two championships had less to do with Draymond Green, often blamed for the original breakup, and more to do with long-standing tensions with Kerr.
“Durant’s exit from the Bay Area arguably had more to do with his issues with Steve Kerr than any shouting match with Green. Durant repeatedly complained both publicly and privately about Kerr’s offensive principles during his final season with the Warriors, and he continued to do so even after he left for Brooklyn.”
“The two have since reconciled, but league sources identify Kerr as among the reasons Durant opted not to return to Golden State at the trade deadline.”
That bombshell detail sheds new light on why a blockbuster three-team trade involving the Suns, Warriors, and Heat, one that would’ve sent Jimmy Butler to Phoenix and Durant back to the Bay, ultimately collapsed.
All teams were reportedly on board. Golden State was ready to welcome Durant back. Phoenix would’ve received a grittier, win-now piece in Butler. And Miami would’ve pivoted to retool its aging core. The logistics were aligned. The timing was right. But Durant said no.
It wasn’t the roster that scared him off, Golden State still had Stephen Curry and a retooled core ready for another run. It wasn’t the city; Durant has always expressed admiration for the Bay Area.
It wasn’t Draymond; the two had long moved past their infamous 2018 spat. It was philosophical. Durant, sources say, never fully bought into Kerr’s read-and-react offensive system, which emphasizes ball movement and equal opportunity scoring, a contrast to Durant’s preference for direct isolation and mismatch exploitation.
When he first arrived in the Golden State in 2016, Durant fit like a glove because of his unmatched talent. But the deeper into the system he got, the more restricted he reportedly felt. Even as he racked up two Finals MVPs and three Finals appearances, KD often hinted, sometimes subtly, sometimes publicly, that the style didn’t showcase his full skillset.
That frustration boiled over during his final season, leading to a quieter tension with Kerr that most didn’t see at the time. Though the two reportedly reconciled after Durant left for Brooklyn, league insiders say the scars remained deep enough that he couldn’t envision another stint under Kerr’s command.
Instead, Durant blocked the trade, effectively sending the Suns and Warriors scrambling. The Warriors pivoted and landed Jimmy Butler instead, while the Suns eventually traded Durant to the Houston Rockets in a stunning offseason deal.
Now, the Warriors move forward with Butler alongside Curry. Durant, meanwhile, is set to begin a new chapter in Houston, still elite, still dangerous, but still, perhaps, a man searching for a basketball home that fits.
