Kevin Durant Says He Misses Living In Phoenix Every Day Despite Hostile Reception In Rockets’ Loss

Nov 7, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) high fives guard Amen Thompson (1) against the Phoenix Suns in the third quarter at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn ImagesKevin Durant and the Houston Rockets suffered their third loss of the season tonight against the veteran superstar’s former team, the Phoenix Suns. He finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists, shooting 5-14 from the field (35.7% FG) and 1-7 from beyond the arc (14.3% 3P) in the Rockets’ 99-102 loss.After the game, Kevin Durant spoke to the media about the crowd’s hostile reception tonight and his lack of aggressiveness in the first half.“It’s a normal, regular game. I played here for 2.5 years, bro. It’s not that deep. I loved living in Phoenix. I miss it every day, to be honest with you. My favorite place to live in the league. But outside of that, I’ve got no problems with anybody here,” Kevin Durant said.The relevant context is that Kevin Durant had an open back-and-forth with the Suns’ owner, Matt Ishbia, who seemed to be scapegoating Durant by saying his solution to the Suns’ loss in the 2021 NBA Finals was throwing money at the problem.Kevin Durant responded with a subtle jab at Dillon Brooks’ March 2026 DUI arrest, which even provoked a response from the former Rockets forward. Brooks was a part of the trade package that the Suns received for trading Durant.From the starter intros to every time Kevin Durant got the ball tonight, the entire crowd booed him. So it is natural to assume that things may not be good between him and the franchise.However, Kevin Durant seemed more focused on the city being his favorite place to live and his strong relationship with Devin Booker.“He got some looks there, he got some screens. He made some tough ones too at the end, the rainbow shot. He’s just a great shot maker,”said Durant about Devin Booker, who scored nine straight points in the fourth quarter to ice the game. “That’s what he does, that’s what he gets paid for. That’s why he is a Hall of Famer.”Devin Booker ended up with 24 points, three assists, three steals, and two rebounds while shooting 10-24 from the field (41.7% FG) and 2-9 from behind the arc (22.2% 3P). Booker also spoke highly of his bond with Kevin Durant after tonight’s matchup.“I’m always going to embrace that friendship, that brotherhood, no matter what. Before he even came here, I was always a fan. So, it’s going to continue to grow,” he said about his relationship with the former Suns star.“Obviously, it was going to be a high-intensity game every time we play them for Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green too, so I’m glad we got a win for them,” Booker added.While it was all love between Dillon Brooks and the rest of the Rockets franchise, he still seemed off about Durant’s comments, which was also reflected when he seemingly misheard a question about Jordan Ott’s comments.“I was whispering, s–t-talking to other guys, trying to communicate and let the refs know that I’m a passionate player, even though it’s year 10. I’m a passionate player. I apologize for yelling. When I’m alone with a player, I just say what I need to say, play with that physicality, and use it against them as well,” Brooks said when asked about how he managed his emotions tonight while going up against his former team. still all love between the guys 🤞— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) November 8, 2026“Feels good, but I’d rather him tweet about it than say it for sure,” Brooks added when he seemed to mishear a question about Jordan Ott’s comments and took it as Durant praising him after the game.Kevin Durant also addressed his lack of aggression on the court tonight, where he had only one field-goal attempt in the entire first half.“Why does that matter?” Durant jokingly said when a reporter asked him about it during the locker room media scrum, then clarified it was an inside joke.“Sometimes it’s gonna go like that. It really don’t matter what I do. It’s about what we do as a group. I care more about turnovers than my shot attempts,” he concluded.Durant had only two turnovers out of the team’s 14 total, but in a one-possession game, even a single field goal allowed off a turnover could be considered the difference maker.Ultimately, despite the hostile reception, Kevin Durant made it clear that he holds no grudges against Phoenix and still cherishes his relationship with Devin Booker. However, Dillon Brooks’ reaction suggests some tension remains beneath the surface.The competitive sides of Kevin Durant and Dillon Brooks make this a must-see matchup. With the Rockets and Suns set to meet again, the lingering exchanges could add another layer to their rivalry.They have two more matchups this season, with one later this month for the NBA Cup (November 25). Real basketball fans will eagerly wait for those games on the edge of their seats.