Kevin Durant is headed back to Texas, this time as the Houston Rockets’ newest superstar. The 15-time NBA All-Star and two-time champion was traded from the Phoenix Suns in a blockbuster deal that sent Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and a package of draft picks to Phoenix, marking a dramatic shift in the Rockets’ championship ambitions. But for Durant, Texas is more than just his latest NBA stop -- it’s where his legend began.
Durant’s first Texas chapter was written in burnt orange. In the 2006-07 season, he played his lone year of college basketball for the Texas Longhorns, making history as the first freshman to win any major National Player of the Year award. Durant averaged 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds, earning consensus first-team All-American honors and sweeping the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, and Adolph Rupp Trophy. His dominance on both ends of the floor – including 66 steals and 67 blocks- made him a Big 12 Player of the Year and a member of the conference’s All-Defensive team.
Durant’s impact was so profound that Texas retired his No. 35 jersey just two years after he left for the NBA, a rare honor for a one-and-done player.
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After being selected No. 2 overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2007 NBA Draft, Durant’s career soared. He became an MVP, a four-time scoring champion, and a two-time Finals MVP with the Golden State Warriors. Yet, his Texas roots remained a defining part of his story, with frequent returns to Austin and philanthropic efforts, including a $3 million donation to the university.
After stints with Oklahoma City, Golden State, Brooklyn, and Phoenix, Durant returns to Texas at age 36, joining a Rockets team that finished second in the Western Conference last season but fell short in the playoffs.. Houston lacked a reliable go-to scorer in critical moments -- a void Durant is uniquely qualified to fill, having averaged 26.6 points on 52.7% shooting last season, including 43% from three-point range.
Durant’s arrival signals a win-now mentality for Houston, pairing him with rising stars Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and veteran Fred VanVleet under coach Ime Udoka. The Rockets hope Durant’s elite scoring, playoff experience, and leadership will elevate them to true title contention in a crowded Western Conference.
For Durant, the move is both a homecoming and a new challenge. “Being part of the Houston Rockets, I’m looking forward to it,” Durant said after the trade was announced. “Crazy, crazy last couple weeks, but I’m glad it’s over with.”
As Durant dons a Texas jersey again -- this time in Rockets red -- the Lone Star State prepares for another chapter in the storied career of one of basketball’s all-time greats.