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Kevin Durant Reacts to Brittney Griner’s Atlanta Dream Move

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Jan 30, 2025 10:00 AM ET

The WNBA offseason has taken some big turns lately. One of them was Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in a blockbuster three-team deal. Another was Connecticut Sun star Alyssa Thomas being sent to the Phoenix Mercury.

Another one was Mercury star Brittney Griner deciding to join the Atlanta Dream after spending 11 seasons in Phoenix. Griner was originally drafted No. 1 overall in 2013 after a stellar career at Baylor, so this is her first time not playing with the Mercury in the WNBA.

On Wednesday night, Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant was asked about Griner's departure after the loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, per Hayden Cilley.

"I was definitely shocked to see that," Durant said. "That's just part of professional sports. BG has been a staple here in the city for so long."

"Everybody needs a change," Durant continued. "She's going to impact that city just as much. I loved getting to play in the same city as her for the last couple of years and been a good friend of mine for a while."

Griner's time in Phoenix was incredible as she was a 10-time All-Star, two-time WNBA scoring champion and an eight-time WNBA blocks leader while helping lead the Mercury to the WNBA title in 2014.

It's a big pickup for the Dream, who finished as the No. 8 seed in the WNBA and got swept by the New York Liberty (the eventual WNBA champs) in the first round.

For Durant, he has been on several NBA teams, so he knows all about moving on in professional sports. Nonetheless, for the first time in a decade, Griner will be wearing a different WNBA jersey.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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