...
By Valentina MartinezShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberHouston Rockets All-Star Kevin Durant will miss Monday's game against the Phoenix Suns and Wednesday's contest against the Golden State Warriors due to a family matter, per ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania.
Loading twitter content...
Durant formerly played for both the Suns and Warriors, but will not face either team this week. It was widely known Durant did not want to continue his tenure in Phoenix, and he was traded to the Rockets on the final day of the NBA season.
In exchange for Durant, the Suns received Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, three selections in the 2025 NBA Draft (No. 10 pick Khaman Maluach, No. 31 pick Rasheer Fleming, No. 41 pick Koby Brea), and a 2026 second-round pick.
More news: NBA Insider Reveals One Major Trade Move Knicks Could Make Soon
"It all happened pretty fast. I wasn't expecting to leave Phoenix that quickly, but that's just the nature of the game," Durant said. “So I quickly just thought about who I was comfortable with, which coaching staff would just let me be me and understand what I bring to the table.
"(Houston coach Ime Udoka) has always been one of those guys that understood what I brought to the table, my mentality and my approach to the game. He always respected that and gave me my space to be me. That was one of the first things I thought about.”
Durant spent less than three seasons in the Valley of the Sun as he was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to Phoenix in February 2023 and made his departure in July 2025.
...Durant spent three seasons with the Warriors, winning two NBA championships with the organization in 2016-17 and 2017-18. He chose to depart from Golden State and join the Nets in 2019 as a free agent, in the hopes of finding a fresh start with a new franchise.
While Durant is in his age-37 season, the forward remains a star in the association. The Rockets are currently 10-4 to open the 2025-26 season, currently ranking as the fifth seed in a competitive Western Conference.
Durant's absence from Monday's game will mark the first matchup he's missed this season with the Rockets.
More news: Warriors’ Draymond Green Sends Harsh Message to Knicks
For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
NBABronny James Explains Why Lakers Sent Him to the G League3 min read
NBAJoel Embiid’s Concerning Absence Carries Into 76ers’ Heat Matchup3 min read
NBAJames Harden Has 3-Word Message After Setting Clippers Record3 min read
NBALeBron James Posts Powerful Reaction to Chris Paul’s NBA Retirement2 min read
NBAPistons Issue Final Jaden Ivey Update vs Bucks3 min read
NBALakers’ JJ Redick Sends Strong Message on Chris Paul Retiring4 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
WorldUkrainian Troops Push Back in Fierce Fight for Key City—Kyiv5 min read
NewsJasmine Crockett Mocks Marjorie Taylor Greene for Resignation5 min read
PoliticsZohran Mamdani Recounts Visit With Donald Trump5 min read
WorkHired, Managed, and Fired by AI: Stories From Those Who Have Been There6 min read
NewsMarjorie Taylor Greene’s Next Move? What Polls Tell Us4 min read
NewsNigerian School Kidnapping Update: 50 Children Escape Abductors5 min readTrending
Higher EducationFull List of Degrees Not Classed As ‘Professional’ by Trump Admin8 min read
Winter StormWinter Storm Warning As 18 Inches of Snow To Hit5 min read
WeatherWinter Weather Alerts in 4 States As 18 Inches of Snow To Hit3 min read
Product recallAmazon Recall: Threat-To-Life Warning Issued For Items Pulled Nationwide4 min read
Social SecuritySocial Security Issues Update on 2025 Changes4 min readOpinion
OpinionConventional Wisdom: Price of Culture Edition3 min read
OpinionLatinos Catch the Fish. Why Aren’t They at the Decision-Making Table? | Opinion5 min read
OpinionWhy Is the US Punishing Legal Immigrants? | Opinion5 min read
OpinionWhat Is an American?6 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: MAGA Infighting Edition2 min read