Durant revealed he considered returning to the Warriors! He refused due to disagreement with their management style; the Rockets truly respect me.

On October 23rd Beijing time, Rockets star Durant gave an exclusive interview to Sports Illustrated, explaining why a fresh destination like the Rockets is more attractive than teams he has played for before such as the Warriors and Suns.

"I really love Stephen (Curry), and I enjoy playing with him," Durant stated, "I genuinely considered returning to the Warriors. But deep down, a voice told me that in the final chapter of my career, I shouldn't be in a situation where the team owner controls where I play behind the scenes."

"I don’t like that feeling. I feel like I have worked hard step by step in the league, sweating for my name, skills, and the reputation and personal brand I’ve built. So,They were pulling strings behind my back and playing shady games — that’s something I just can’t accept. Because of this, I want to completely separate myself from the Warriors and Suns. I don’t agree with their way of operating.”

However, Durant also acknowledged one action by the Warriors that he appreciated.

"Honestly, I’m thankful to the Warriors for coming to me first before making any moves and asking if I wanted to be involved," Durant said, "But I still don’t agree with their overall approach. So, I just want to leave the past behind and move forward. The Rockets truly respect me, recognize the value I bring, and sincerely want to build a successful team together. That’s why I’m very excited about joining them."

Clearly, Durant wants to control the direction of the final stage of his career rather than having others decide for him. As a future Hall of Famer, the 37-year-old shows no signs of decline. This Texas-born player has maintained at least 25 points per game, 50% shooting, and 40% three-point shooting for each of the past three seasons — the longest such streak in NBA history.

On October 20th, Durant signed a two-year, $90 million extension with the Rockets, including a player option for the 2027-28 season. His Rockets debut ended in a 124-125 loss to another former team, the Thunder. Durant played 47 minutes, scored 23 points, and fouled out with 2.3 seconds left in the second overtime. Alexander took advantage by making two free throws, leading the Thunder to a narrow victory over the Rockets.