Kevin Durant and the Suns will reportedly jointly work on finding the 15-time All-Star a new home this offseason. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Durant has the Spurs in his shortlist of teams he’d be interested in suiting up for.
The report follows rumors that the Spurs are keen to form a new Big Three featuring Durant, Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Ultimately, the Suns should trade Durant to the team that offers them the best package. However, if Durant — a free agent in 2026 — can wield his influence, he should prioritize the Spurs over other rumored landing spots such as the Rockets and Timberwolves.
The reasoning is simple: Durant is a hooper’s hooper who prefers his play to do the talking. He isn’t a vocal leader or a culture-setter. If he were to go to the Timberwolves or Rockets, he’d be required to lead young players, hold them accountable and take on a role that extends beyond 94×50 feet of hardwood.
Learn from mistakes in Phoenix, Brooklyn
That role did not suit him in either Brooklyn or Phoenix. In both places, he was supposed to be the senior statesman whom others looked to for guidance. Both fired multiple coaches to acquiesce to him, but the decisions backfired. Durant was reportedly not on speaking terms with Frank Vogel for several months last season, leading to the latter’s firing.
This season, Durant has had multiple clashes with Mike Budenholzer, Vogel’s successor, again proving not to be the best of leaders.
In San Antonio, Durant can be a plug-and-play piece focusing on basketball and fitting into the renowned Spurs culture. He won’t need to resolve any locker-room beefs or challenge a coach’s philosophies. He also won’t need to mentor Wemby or any of the Spurs youngsters—there’s a reason Tim Duncan is on the sidelines even in retirement.
The sharpshooter’s unassuming personality will also fit hand in glove with the Spurs, who’ve always preached team over player.
Durant, 36, has moved teams four times in the last decade. It’s time to trust in the Spurs to handle the final few years of his career.
