The Houston Rockets went all-in this past summer by completing a blockbuster trade to acquire 15-time All-Star and 2-time Finals MVP Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns.
Heading into his 18th NBA campaign, the legendary 37-year-old scorer aims to lead the Rockets to a title in 2025-26, but another meaningful goal could make itself apparent prior to the beginning of the new season.
On a recent episode of Kay Adams’ podcast Up & Adams, the popular sports personality hosted Durant to talk all things Rockets before the franchise embarks on its journey and to ask an important question regarding a possible reunion with his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate, Russell Westbrook.
Following Adams’ mention of the opportunity to rekindle their on-court relationship, Durant responded positively to the notion that Westbrook deserves a spot in the NBA and even a chance to suit up for Houston.
“Usually when stuff like that happens, it’s pretty loud,” Durant told Adams on Wednesday.
“But I haven’t really heard it outside of fans on the internet. Russ is a legend and I think he deserves to be in the NBA right now and I think he deserves to walk out of the NBA on his terms.”
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“So, yeah, (teaming up with Westbrook) would be dope. But it’s not my decision. (I’m) leaving that up to whoever makes those decisions, for now.”
After winning the 2017 NBA MVP, two All-Star Game MVP’s, nabbing two scoring titles, three assist titles and asserting himself as one of the greatest point guards to ever touch a basketball, the 36-year-old Westbrook remains on the board as a free agent.
Westbrook’s 2024-25 campaign for the Denver Nuggets proved that he could still be a productive bench piece for a competitive team, as he contributed 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds for a Nuggets squad that finished one win away from a 2025 Western Conference Finals berth.
Durant and Westbrook shared the court for the Thunder for eight seasons from 2008-2016, making an NBA Finals appearance in 2012 and four Western Conference Finals appearances. Ultimately, Durant ended their partnership in controversial fashion when he left in the summer of 2016 to join the Golden State Warriors in free agency.
In 2016-17, the first season after Durant’s exit, Westbrook led the NBA in scoring with 31.6 points to go along with 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists, becoming the first player to average a triple-double in a season since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 and taking home MVP honors in the process.
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