Steve Kerr Makes Blunt Kevin Durant Statement Before Warriors-Suns Game

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr spoke about Kevin Durant before Saturday's game.

Mar 22, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr talks with the media before the game against the Indiana Pacers at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images / John Hefti-Imagn Images

On Saturday evening, the Golden State Warriors are facing off against the Suns in Phoenix.

There are always a lot of eyes on a matchup between Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.

Before the game, head coach Steve Kerr spoke about Durant (who spent three seasons with Golden State).

Kerr (h/t Duane Rankin of azcentral): "I think it was clear at the end that he was ready to move on and take on a different challenge... We would've loved to have kept him forever, but it wasn't meant to be."

"We would've loved to have kept him forever, but it wasn't meant to be."

Steve Kerr on Kevin Durant, who won back-to-back finals MVPs for the Warriors. Played 3 seasons for Golden State before going to Brooklyn. #Suns #DubNation pic.twitter.com/zvNAgFnSmN

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 1, 2024

Durant helped the Warriors reach three straight NBA Finals.

They won back-to-back titles (2017-18).

Over 208 regular season games with Golden State, Durant had outstanding averages of 25.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.5 blocks per contest while shooting 52.4% from the field and 38.4% from the three-point range.

Nov 22, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) with Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr in the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

In the summer of 2019, Durant left the franchise to sign with the Brooklyn Nets.

However, he has been unable to reach the conference finals with the Nets (or the Suns).

Nov 27, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) reacts against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images / Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The 2014 MVP enters play with averages of 27.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 blocks per contest while shooting 55.1% from the field and 44.1% from the three-point range in 11 games.

KD gets us started tonight! pic.twitter.com/cyRn1sxnAX

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 1, 2024

The Suns had been among the best teams in the NBA.

However, they fell off when Durant missed seven games due to an injury.

Currently, the Suns are the ninth seed in the Western Conference with a 10-8 record in their first 18 games of the season.