During the recent NBA trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors made a bold move by acquiring and extending Jimmy Butler, surprising many who expected Butler to join the Phoenix Suns. Amid these shifts, a potential trade that would send Kevin Durant back to the Warriors nearly materialized but ultimately fell through as Durant chose not to return to the Bay Area. His decision significantly affected the team‘s strategy going into the playoffs.
Team Dynamics and Playoff Performance Without Durant
With Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler forming a strong dynamic early in the season, Golden State found a successful rhythm, proving that bypassing a trade for Durant did not hinder their momentum. The team rallied and performed impressively as they headed into the NBA playoffs, demonstrating the effectiveness of their roster despite the absence of the former Warriors star.
Reasons Behind Durant’s Refusal to Return
Many analysts believed that Durant’s hesitation to rejoin the Warriors stemmed from strained relationships dating back to his 2019 departure. Speculation focused on his dissatisfaction with how the Warriors’ training staff handled his injury during the NBA Finals and his clashes with teammates like Draymond Green. However, new insights suggest a more complex motive, particularly his issues with head coach Steve Kerr.
Insights on Durant’s Relationship with Coach Steve Kerr
According to reporter Logan Murdock, Durant’s exit was influenced more by his frustrations with Kerr than his public disputes with Green. Durant openly criticized Kerr’s offensive strategies during his final season with Golden State and continued this criticism after joining Brooklyn. Although Durant and Kerr have since reconciled, league insiders point to the coach’s role as a key factor in Durant’s decision to decline the mid-season trade back to the Warriors.
“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,”
Murdock wrote.
“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.”
—Logan Murdock, Reporter
Current Team Standing and Future Outlook
At present, the Warriors rely on the leadership of Curry, Butler, and Green as they navigate through the season. Meanwhile, Durant’s tenure with the Suns ended when he was traded to the Houston Rockets for a significantly reduced value. The unfolding situation highlights the complexity of player-coach relationships in basketball and how such dynamics can shape major trade decisions and team compositions moving forward.