‘It Hurts’ – Jalen Green Breaks Silence on Shocking Trade From Rockets to Suns in a Move That Involved Kevin Durant

On June 22, just hours before Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Kevin Durant was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and five second-round picks.

Jalen Green expressed deep emotions about leaving Houston during his first media appearance at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He stated, "It hurts. Houston is home to me and forever will be home to me," acknowledging his NBA career beginnings there while recognizing the trade as a business reality.

Green's departure followed a 2024-25 regular season where he averaged 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, but his playoff performance dipped significantly to 13.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists, potentially influencing Houston's decision to trade him.

Despite sadness over leaving Houston, Green conveyed strong enthusiasm about joining the Suns, calling them a "great organization" with "great people." He predicted the team would "surprise a lot of people and make a lot of noise" in the 2025-26 season, emphasizing excitement about playing "winning basketball" for a playoff-caliber team.

Green specifically highlighted his anticipated backcourt partnership with Devin Booker, declaring they would form a "deadly scoring duo." He elaborated that both players attract double teams and complement each other's scoring abilities, forcing defenses to choose which star to prioritize stopping.

The Suns' commitment to Booker includes a record two-year, $145 million extension through 2029-30. Green enters the first year of a three-year, $105.3 million contract with Phoenix, solidifying the team's investment in the new backcourt pairing.