Durant's Impact and Trade Fallout | NBA News

Kevin Durant’s first season with the Rockets was a masterpiece of late-career dominance—averaging 26 points on 50% shooting, earning his 14th All-NBA selection, and carrying the offense when Fred VanVleet went down. The team surged to 52 wins and playoff favorites against the Lakers, only to have Durant’s season derailed by a knee injury just before the series. Though the championship dream faded, Durant’s impact was undeniable: he elevated the Rockets’ ceiling, setting the stage for a smarter, more balanced roster with VanVleet’s return and Marcus Smart’s addition. Meanwhile, Phoenix’s trade return—Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green—struggled to replicate Durant’s magic, with Green hitting career lows and Brooks missing games. Houston walked away with the better end of the deal, building a foundation for future success one piece at a time. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/7b01447eb4196c83