The Golden State Warriors were closer than we thought.
Kevin Durant and the Warriors are forever linked—through championships, controversies, and what-ifs. But this season, that history nearly added a new chapter.
Appearing on the Tom Tolbert Show, Steve Kerr confirmed the team actively tried to acquire Durant during the 2025 season. This wasn’t just smoke. It was real.
“We had nothing going. We were at the point of the season where you could just feel it, we were dead in the water,” Kerr said. “We were below .500, and it had been a long enough stretch to go like, alright, this isn’t working.”
(via Tom Tolbert Show)
The comments came in the context of Golden State’s eventual trade for Jimmy Butler, who arrived from Miami ahead of the deadline. But it turns out Butler was Plan B.
“I think it’s well documented that we were trying to get Kevin Durant,” Kerr added. “That didn’t happen.”
(via Tom Tolbert Show)
According to Kerr, Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy called him immediately after Durant talks fizzled, proposing a pivot.
“Mike just calls me and says, ‘Hey, I think we’re going to trade for Jimmy Butler. I’m going to vouch for him. I played with him for three years in Chicago. The guy’s a gamer.’ And I said, ‘Great, let’s do it.’ We needed a change.”
(via Tom Tolbert Show)
What This Says About the Warriors’ Offseason Mindset
The Warriors knew their championship window was closing—but they weren’t ready to shut it completely. A midseason push for Durant wasn’t just about nostalgia. It was about survival.
As Kerr explained, the team had hit a wall. That kind of honesty speaks volumes. The Warriors weren’t posturing at the deadline—they were actively looking to shake up their identity and bring in someone who could anchor a playoff run. First choice: Durant. Backup plan: Butler. Either way, they were betting big.
Looking ahead to the offseason, Golden State will once again be in the mix for any marquee name—Durant included. The front office has shown its hand: if there’s a way to extend the core’s relevance, they’ll take it.
