Kevin Durant was traded to the Houston Rockets on Sunday, and the two-time NBA Finals MVP happened to be making a public appearance at the time the news broke.
The Phoenix Suns have agreed to trade Durant to the Rockets in exchange for Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and a package of draft picks. When ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news of the blockbuster deal, Durant was speaking on stage at Fanatics Fest in New York City.
Fans in the audience began buzzing after they caught word of the trade. Many of them booed while Durant smiled as if he was not all that stunned.
Durant then told the fans, “We gonna see what happens, man.” You can see the video here.
It is unlikely that Durant was blindsided by the news, though you never know. Trades tend to come together quickly, and the Suns were in talks with several teams before they agreed to a deal with Houston.
Durant has been linked to the Rockets dating back to last year. He has a strong relationship with head coach Ime Udoka from when Udoka was an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets and with Team USA.
There were reportedly three teams with which Durant was willing to sign an extension, and Houston was one of them.
Durant should have a better opportunity to contend for a title with the Rockets, who went 52-30 this season and lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round. The Suns finished 36-46 and did not make the playoffs.
Durant will turn 37 in September, but he continued to play at an elite level this season with 26.6 points per game. He is set to make $54.7 million in the final year of his contract but will likely sign an extension with the Rockets.
