Houston (AP) — Kevin Durant of Houston stated that making the game-winning shot against the Phoenix Suns on Monday night mattered more to him because it was against his old team, whom he believed had rejected him.

The Rockets won 100-97 thanks to Durant’s 26 points and his 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining.

The 15-time All-Star didn’t hold back when asked if it meant more because it was against the Suns.

“Definitely,” he replied. “I didn’t want to leave that place.” I don’t want to sound overly dramatic, but this is the first time I’ve been ejected from a business.

When Durant hit the 27-footer to give the Rockets the win, the game was deadlocked. In a huge trade that sent Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to the Suns this summer, Durant moved from Phoenix to the Rockets.

“Playing against a team that expelled you from the building and used you as a scapegoat for all of their issues feels good,” he remarked. And it hurt because I gave the Suns, the Phoenix region, and Arizona in general my wholehearted love, care, and effort. However, that is simply the nature of the company and the essence of the game. Therefore, you do have a chip on your shoulder when you play against a (former) team.

Following a trade from the Nets in February 2023, the 37-year-old Durant played with the Suns for two and a half seasons. Although he was an All-Star throughout both of his full seasons there, the team fell short of expectations, missing out on the playoffs the previous season and falling in the first round of the postseason in 2023–2024.

He declared, “I want to beat that team, but it’s nothing but love for the players.” “I want to demonstrate to them that I still have energy.” I’m still able to play despite my advanced age. Every player, in my opinion, has that mindset when they play against their old squad. It’s not in any way hostile to them, in my opinion. However, you want to go out there and defeat them just like any other competition.

However, Durant expressed his hope that these emotions won’t persist for very long.

He remarked, “I probably won’t even remember it by the time I get home tonight.” “Well, I will keep it in mind, but I’ll do my best to move on to the next one and forget about it.”