Warriors' Draymond Green Defends Kevin Durant After Suns Make Playoffs

Green pushes back on notion Durant's departure helped Phoenix's return to the postseason.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:26pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or match between the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape.Draymond Green's passionate defense of Kevin Durant's departure from the Suns reflects the complex, multifaceted nature of the NBA's competitive landscape.Houston Today

Following the Golden State Warriors' season-ending loss to the Phoenix Suns, veteran forward Draymond Green forcefully defended former teammate Kevin Durant, who left the Suns in the 2025 offseason. Green argued that Durant's exit benefited both teams, pointing to the Suns' return to the playoffs and the success of Durant's current team, the Houston Rockets.

Why it matters

Green's comments reframe the narrative around Durant's departure from the Suns, which had been viewed by some as a case of 'addition by subtraction' for Phoenix. The four-time NBA champion pushed back on the notion that Durant's exit was the sole reason for the Suns' playoff return, emphasizing that the move ultimately worked out for all sides.

The details

In the Warriors' 111-96 loss to the Suns on Friday night, Phoenix secured the eighth and final playoff seed behind a dominant performance from guard Jalen Green. The defeat officially ended Golden State's season, but Draymond Green's remarks about Kevin Durant quickly became a central storyline. The veteran forward addressed the media following the game, defending Durant and arguing that the former Suns star's departure 'benefited both teams'.

  • The Warriors' season-ending loss to the Suns occurred on Friday, April 18, 2026.
  • Kevin Durant left the Suns in the 2025 offseason.

The players

Draymond Green

A veteran forward for the Golden State Warriors and four-time NBA champion.

Kevin Durant

A superstar forward who previously played for the Phoenix Suns and currently plays for the Houston Rockets.

Jalen Green

A guard for the Phoenix Suns who had a dominant performance in the team's playoff-clinching win over the Warriors.

Devin Booker

A star guard for the Phoenix Suns who was ejected late in the game against the Warriors.

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What they’re saying

“Let's not put this all on Kevin like Kevin's not great, because Kevin is great, and there will be no Kevin slander on my watch. Kevin's team wasn't fighting to get in. Kevin is doing just fine, and they're doing just fine. When you look at the situation, it benefited both teams for Kevin to leave. It benefited Houston, and it benefited the Suns.”

— Draymond Green, Warriors forward

The takeaway

Draymond Green's passionate defense of Kevin Durant's 2025 departure from the Suns reframes the narrative around the move, emphasizing that it ultimately benefited both teams. Green's comments push back on the notion that Durant's exit was the sole reason for Phoenix's return to the playoffs, highlighting the success of Durant's current team, the Houston Rockets, as well.