The Phoenix Suns today acquired forwards Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four future first-round picks and a pick swap.
“Mikal, Cam and Jae have been franchise cornerstones during one of the most successful runs in team history. I want to thank them for all that they have contributed to the community in Phoenix and to this organization," Suns Governor Mat Ishbia said.
“Today is a transformative day for this organization. We are thrilled to welcome Kevin and T.J. to the Valley as we build a championship culture both on and off the court," Ishbia added. "Not only is Kevin one of the greatest and most accomplished players in the history of the sport, but his character also embodies the world class commitment to excellence we are instilling across every facet of this organization. T.J. is a natural leader whose work ethic and commitment to getting better every day make him an important addition to the team as he returns to the Valley. Phoenix will be one of the best organizations in all of sports and we are so excited to start our journey with this incredibly dynamic team.”
“We are elated to welcome Kevin and T.J. to the Valley,” said President of Basketball Operations and General Manager James Jones. “Both players are dynamic scorers and fierce competitors who compete with intensity night in and night out. We’re excited to see the added value they will contribute to our team.”
“Mikal and Cam had an immeasurable impact on our organization, on and off the court, with their attitudes and approaches to the game,” said Jones. “We thank them and thank Jae for all their contributions to our success over the past seasons.”
An NBA All-Star selection this season, the 13th of his career, Durant has averaged 29.7 points on a career-high 55.9% from the field, 37.6% from three-point and a league-leading 93.4% from the free throw line, plus 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 blocks in 39 games with the Nets. Selected as an All-Star Game starter for the 11th time, he has recorded 19 games with 30-plus points this season and four games scoring 40-plus. Durant is posting a True Shooting Percentage of 67.3% this season, which currently stands as the highest single-season mark in NBA history by a player averaging at least 27 points per game.
Durant is a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, a two-time NBA Champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP in 2017 and 2018 with Golden State, the NBA MVP in 2014 with Oklahoma City, the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2008 with Seattle, a 10-time All-NBA selection (including six First Team selections) and a four-time scoring champion. He ranks second among active players and 16th in NBA history with 26,684 career points, and his career scoring average of 27.3 points per game leads active players and is fourth-highest in league history behind only Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor. Durant also ranks second among active players and ninth in NBA history with 4,559 career points in the playoffs while his career 29.4 points per game in the playoffs ranks fourth in league history.
A three-time Olympic gold medalist while representing the U.S. Men’s National Team, Durant won gold in 2012 in London while teaming with Chris Paul, won gold in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro with a coaching staff that included Monty Williams and won gold in 2020 in Tokyo while teaming with Devin Booker. Durant is one of just two players in Olympic men’s basketball history to earn three gold medals, along with Carmelo Anthony, and he is the all-time leading scorer in U.S. men’s basketball Olympic history. He also won gold and was MVP at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey and has three times been named the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (2010, 2016, 2021).
Currently in his 15th season, Durant holds career averages of 27.3 points on 49.8% from the field, 38.4% from three-point and 88.6% from the free throw line plus 7.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals in 978 regular season games with Brooklyn, Golden State and Oklahoma City/Seattle. In 155 career playoff games, he has averaged 29.4 points on 47.6% from the field, 35.6% from three-point and 86.6% percent from the free throw line plus 7.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 steals. The Washington, D.C. native entered the league as the second overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by Seattle after one season at the University of Texas where he was the consensus national college player of the year. He has since had his No. 35 retired by the Longhorns.
Warren returns to the Suns where he played his first five seasons after being selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. With the Nets this season, Warren averaged 9.5 points on 51.0% from the field, 33.3% from three-point and 81.8% from the free throw line in 18.8 minutes per game in 26 contests since returning in December from a left foot injury that kept him out the 2021-22 season.
For his career, Warren has averaged 15.1 points on 50.7% from the field, 35.5% from three-point and 78.1% from the free throw line plus 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 358 games with the Suns, Indiana and Brooklyn. He has also appeared in four playoff games with the Pacers, averaging 20.0 points on 47.1% shooting from the field. Warren has recorded 16 career games scoring 30-plus points, including a career-high 53 points with Indiana on Aug. 1, 2020. In his first tenure with the Suns, Warren averaged 14.4 points on 49.7% from the field and 4.1 rebounds in 261 games from 2014 to 2019, posting a scoring high of 40 points in a win at Washington on Nov. 1, 2017.
A native of Durham, North Carolina, Warren starred collegiately for two seasons at North Carolina State University before entering the NBA. In his final season with the Wolfpack in 2013-14, he earned ACC Player of the Year honors and set a single-season school record with 871 points, breaking the 39-year-old record previously held by Hall of Famer David Thompson. He has since had his No. 24 raised to the rafters at NC State.
Durant will wear uniform No. 35 and Warren will wear uniform No. 21.