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NBA superstar Kevin Durant has played for five different teams over his 18-year career. From the Thunder to the Rockets, he’s been a star at every stop so far, but that hasn’t always translated into team success. Durant’s stint with the Suns is the perfect example of this fact. While he did have some initial success alongside Devin Booker, his time there was spoiled after his second full season, prompting a trade that sent him to Houston. Recently, Durant reflected on his time there and explained why things did not go according to plan. “I always had fun out there,” said Durant on ‘Boardroom Talks.’ “I don’t want to undercut my time in Phoenix because I feel like we have some great moments on the court. But I feel as though we were an older group who kind of stuck in our ways as veterans, and veterans kind of like to do their own thing a lot. When you’re a younger group, it’s more of a tight-knit group. They’re all learning together, it’s kind of like a college feel, and I think that’s the difference.” Durant specifically requested a trade to Phoenix at the 2022 deadline, craving a partnership with Devin Booker. Together, they made a formidable duo, and Durant put up his usual numbers, with averages of 26.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game on 52.7% shooting over 145 games. In the playoffs, however, the Suns never advanced past the second round. By Durant’s final season, the Suns couldn’t even make the play-in as the 11th seed in the West (36-46). While many fans pinned the blame on Durant himself, he says the issues are more complicated than that. By the time he joined the Suns, Durant was already well into his 30s, and he was 36 by the time he left. Most of his teammates, however, were much more inexperienced, including Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, who were several years younger. According to Durant, the Suns (and younger teams in general) have a completely different culture and vibe than older, veteran teams, and he believes that it created a rift between him and his teammates. He felt out of place and like he no longer fit in with their identity as a franchise. Of course, this phenomenon is nothing new for Durant. He experienced a similar falling out with the Warriors and Nets before joining the Suns. Now, he is in Houston, and there have been signs of friction following their first-round playoff loss. The hope for Durant is that he can rise above the drama and come through for his team when they need it most. Fortunately, after a summer of solid additions, the Rockets are in a good position to be competitive for several years to come. In the end, Durant has no hard feelings toward the Suns. He claims to have enjoyed his time there, but seemingly has no regrets about leaving. He did not mesh with that locker room, and the Suns are better off since severing ties.