“I Don’t Think Championship Yet”: Houston Rockets Legend Vernon Maxwell Opens Up About Kevin Durant Trade
During an interview with NBA reporter Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Houston Rockets legend Vernon Maxwell opened up about the Kevin Durant trade.
The Rockets traded Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and draft picks to the Phoenix Suns this offseason for Durant, one of the greatest players in NBA history.
Maxwell, who won two championships with the Rockets in 1994 and 1995, loves the addition of Durant in Houston. However, Maxwell doesn’t think the Rockets will win the championship this season.
“I think it’s a great addition, man,” Maxwell said. “I’m sorry for Jalen and Dillon the villain. I’m sorry for those guys, but I think it was a good trade for both teams, you know? I mean, like I always said last year, the Rockets need a guy that they can roll it out to and get a bucket in the playoffs and now they got that guy. So it’s going to be an interesting year this year.
“I think contender… but not… I don’t think championship yet. We gotta get a couple more pieces, but we’re knockin’ on the door. We’re close, so I’m looking forward to it. We’re real close.”
The Rockets made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2020. They lost to the Golden State Warriors in the first round in seven games.
Houston suffered a major loss this offseason, losing starting point guard Fred VanVleet to an ACL tear. The floor general is expected to miss the entire 2025-26 season.
Durant averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.2 blocks last season in 62 games. He shot 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line for the Suns, who missed the 2025 playoffs.
A 15-time All-Star, Durant enters this season with career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.1 blocks with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Suns. He won back-to-back championships and Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018 with Golden State.
Durant, 37, has won only two playoff series (2021, 2023) since leaving the Warriors for the Nets in 2019.
A top 75 player of all time, Durant is a four-time scoring champion and a one-time MVP. He will make his Houston regular-season debut against his old team, Oklahoma City, on October 21.
The Rockets are expected to start Durant, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün. It’s unknown who will start at point guard.
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