Swift Intervention! Trade Blocked! The Dream of a LeBron-KD-Curry Superteam Is Officially Dead!

The NBA trade deadline has officially passed, and while there were no blockbuster moves involving current All-Stars, one near-trade had the entire league buzzing. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, a deal was on the verge of completion involving the Warriors, Suns, and Heat. The proposed trade would have sent Kevin Durant back to Golden State, Jimmy Butler to Phoenix, and Andrew Wiggins to Miami. However, just as the finishing touches were being placed, Durant himself stepped in and shut it all down.

Durant Kills the Trade Before It’s Finalized

Brian Windhorst revealed the inside story, stating, “The deal was essentially agreed upon—Durant to the Warriors, Butler to the Suns, and Wiggins to the Heat. But once Durant caught wind of it, he intervened and put an end to everything. After that, the Warriors shifted their focus to Butler and eventually completed that deal instead.”

Additional reports further detailed Durant’s resistance. Warriors insider Anthony Slater noted that Stephen Curry personally reached out to Durant for a conversation, hoping to gauge his interest in a reunion. However, Curry came away convinced that a return was never truly in the cards. “The Warriors’ ownership and front office underestimated just how cold Durant felt toward the idea of coming back,” Slater said.

ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel further explained, “The Warriors were ready to do whatever it took to bring Durant back, even discussing trading Draymond Green to make room for KD’s return and another championship run with Curry. Meanwhile, within the Suns organization, some—including owner Mat Ishbia—were hesitant about the trade. But the deal advanced far enough that draft picks and contract details were being finalized. The moment Durant learned how close it was to happening, he stepped in and shut everything down.”

Why Did KD Reject the Warriors?

This isn’t the first time reports have surfaced about Durant having zero interest in returning to the Bay Area. Just a day before the trade deadline, NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the Warriors had been aggressively pursuing Durant, only to be met with clear resistance.

“The Warriors have been going after KD all week,” Shams wrote. “But sources say Durant does not want to return. The Suns have struggled despite building around him and Devin Booker, which led to multiple teams inquiring about his availability. But one thing is now certain: Durant has no intention of going back to Golden State.”

Suns beat reporter John Gambadoro added even more fuel to the fire. “I can’t rule out Miami as a landing spot, but Golden State? That’s 99% not happening. KD doesn’t want to play for the Warriors again,” he reported.

So why is Durant so against the idea? The answer is layered.

First, the Warriors are no longer the powerhouse they once were. If Durant were to join, it wouldn’t be the same superteam that dominated the league in 2017 and 2018. A trade would have sent away Wiggins and possibly Jonathan Kuminga, leaving a depleted roster with only Durant and a 36-year-old Curry. With no future draft picks to work with, there would be no easy way to rebuild a contender.

Second, there’s still lingering tension from his initial exit in 2019. The infamous fallout with Draymond Green played a role, but it went beyond that. The Warriors' front office didn’t handle his departure well. A prime example? In late 2019, when Golden State won the award for “Team of the Decade,” they released a tribute video that didn’t include Durant at all—even though he was instrumental in their championships. That kind of oversight doesn’t go unnoticed by someone as online as Durant.

Lastly, even if the Warriors won another championship with him, the same old narratives would resurface. The media and fans would once again claim that Durant “needed” Curry and the Warriors to win. And if Green were still on the team? It would only be a matter of time before he threw some passive-aggressive comments Durant’s way, reigniting old wounds.

The Collapse of the Ultimate Superteam Dream

While Durant refusing a Warriors reunion is significant, it also officially buries one of the wildest potential scenarios in NBA history: a LeBron-KD-Curry superteam.

As crazy as it sounds, the Warriors’ long-term vision reportedly included adding Durant now and then targeting LeBron James in the summer. This would have created an unfathomable trio of LeBron, KD, and Curry—arguably the three most dominant players of their era—all on the same team.

But with Durant’s rejection, that dream is officially dead.

Realistically, the plan was always a long shot. LeBron’s situation in Los Angeles changed dramatically after Luka Dončić was traded to the Lakers. With a younger superstar beside him, plus his son Bronny potentially joining the team soon, there’s little reason for LeBron to consider leaving. And even if he did, Golden State’s ability to sign him was always questionable.

Durant’s decision to reject the Warriors also shuts the door on any possibility of him finishing his career in the Bay Area. While some fans had hoped for a late-career reunion, it's clear that Durant has no desire to turn back time.

The Bottom Line

In the end, Durant made his stance crystal clear—there will be no Warriors return. The move that could have shaken the NBA never materialized, leaving Golden State scrambling to pivot to Butler instead.

And for those who dared to dream about a LeBron-KD-Curry alliance? It’s time to let that fantasy go. The story of Durant and the Warriors has been written, and there’s no sequel coming.