Kevin Durant Talks 1st Game in Phoenix Since Suns-Rockets Trade, 'Not Much Sentimental Value'

It took all the way until the final week of the regular season, but Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant is set to play in front of Phoenix Suns fans for the first time since being traded last offseason.

However, Durant told reporters on Tuesday that his first road game in Phoenix doesn't carry any extra emotions.

"It's not much sentimental value between me and this place," Durant said. "It's a great place to live. I definitely loved living here, but I was only here for a short amount of time."

Durant sat out Houston's first visit to Phoenix in November due to personal reasons. The Rockets still earned a 114-92 win in his absence, and they were also victorious in the two meetings in Houston. Durant reached the 31,000-point mark in his first game against his old team and hit a game-winning three-pointer in the second matchup.

The Brooklyn Nets sent Durant to the Suns at the 2023 trade deadline. The team went through three different head coaches during his time in Phoenix and failed to achieve playoff success, missing the postseason entirely in his final year with the franchise. The 37-year-old admitted to reporters that he wasn't pleased with how things ended at the time, but he's moved past it.

"I'm pretty much over it. At the time, it was tough to take. A place I wanted to be. I wanted to keep building, but it's the business of the league and it's the business of basketball," he said. "You're not going to be in the same place all the time. It is what it is. Yeah, I was sour early on, but I think I've gotten over it. Time heals all. Just move on."

At 49-29, the Rockets have already clinched a playoff spot and currently occupy the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference. The Suns (43-35) rank seventh and appear headed toward a spot in the play-in tournament.

Durant went on to add that he wished to have a better run in Phoenix, but both sides have to move forward.

"I wasn't here long enough to really feel like I left a mark here and that's unfortunate because I want to leave marks everywhere I go, but it is what it is," he told reporters. "Move on and appreciate the time spent, but I'm focused on where I'm at now."